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Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-9639-06
Chapter 42 Troubleshooting
Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password
Step 7 At the switch prompt, enter privileged EXEC mode:
Switch> enable
Step 8 Rename the configuration file to its original name:
Switch# rename flash:config.text.old flash:config.text
Step 9 Copy the configuration file into memory:
Switch# copy flash:config.text system:running-config
Source filename [config.text]?
Destination filename [running-config]?
Press Return in response to the confirmation prompts.
The configuration file is now reloaded, and you can change the password.
Step 10 Enter global configuration mode:
Switch# configure terminal
Step 11 Change the password:
Switch (config)# enable secret password
The secret password can be from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters, can start with a number, is case
sensitive, and allows spaces but ignores leading spaces.
Step 12 Return to privileged EXEC mode:
Switch (config)# exit
Switch#
Step 13 Write the running configuration to the startup configuration file:
Switch# copy running-config startup-config
The new password is now in the startup configuration.
Note This procedure is likely to leave your switch virtual interface in a shutdown state. You can
identify this interface by entering the show running-config privileged EXEC command. To
re-enable the interface, enter the interface vlan vlan-id global configuration command, and
specify the VLAN ID of the shutdown interface. With the switch in interface configuration
mode, enter the no shutdown command.
Step 14 Reload the switch:
Switch# reload
Procedure with Password Recovery Disabled
If the password-recovery mechanism is disabled, this message appears:
The password-recovery mechanism has been triggered, but
is currently disabled. Access to the boot loader prompt
through the password-recovery mechanism is disallowed at
this point. However, if you agree to let the system be
reset back to the default system configuration, access
to the boot loader prompt can still be allowed.