Cisco Systems UBR10012 Replacing or Recovering a Lost Password

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Cisco uBR10012 Universal Broadband Router Software Configuration Guide

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Chapter2 Configuring the Cable Modem Termination System for the First Time

Understanding CiscouBR10012Router Configuration Fundamentals

Note An enable secret password can contain from 1to25 uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric

characters. An enable password can contain any number of uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric

characters. A number cannot be the first character. Spaces are valid password characters; for

example, “two words” is a valid password. Leading spaces are ignored. Trailing spaces are

recognized. Alphanumeric characters are recognized as uppercase or lowercase.

Passwords should be different for maximum security. If you enter the same password for both during the

setup script, the system accepts it, but you receive a warning message indicating that you should enter a

different password.

Replacing or Recovering a Lost Password

This section describes how to recover a lost enable or console login password and how to replace a lost

enable secret password on your CiscouBR10012router.

Note It is possible to recover the enable or console login password. The enable secret password is

encrypted, however, and must be replaced with a new enable secret password.

Following is an overview of the general steps in the password recovery procedure:

Step1 If you can log in to the router, enter the show version command to determine the existing configuration

Step2 Press the Break key to get to the bootstrap program prompt (ROM monitor). You might need to reload

the system image by power cycling the router.

Step3 Change the configuration register so that the following functions are enabled:

•Break

•Ignore startup configuration

•Boot from Flash memory

Note The key to recovering a lost password is to set the configuration register bit 6 (0x0040) so

that the startup configuration (usually in NVRAM) is ignored. This allows you to log in

without using a password and to display the startup configuration passwords.

Ciscorecommends setting the configuration register to 0x142.

Step4 Power cycle the router by turning power off and then back on.

Step5 Log in to the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Step6 Enter the show startup-config command to display the passwords.

Step7 Recover or replace the displayed passwords.

Step8 Change the configuration register back to its original setting.

Note To recover a lost password if Break is disabled on the router, you must have physical access to the router.