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Catalyst 2960 Switch SoftwareConfiguration Guide
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Chapter8 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication
Protecting Access to Privileged EXEC Commands
To re-enable password recovery, use the service password-recovery global configuration command.
Note Disabling password recovery will not work if you have set the switch to boot manually by using the boot
manual global configuration command. This command produces the boo t loader prompt (switch:) after
the switch is power cycled.
Setting a Telnet Password for a Terminal Line
When you power-up your switch for the first time, an automatic setup p rogram runs to assign IP
information and to create a default configuration for continued use. The setup program a lso prompts you
to configure your switch for Telnet access through a password. If you did not configure this password
during the setup program, you can configure it now through the command -line interface (CLI).
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to configure your switch for Telnet access:
To remove the password, use the no password global configuration command.
This example shows how to set the Telnet password to let45me67in89:
Switch(config)# line vty 10
Switch(config-line)# password let45me67in89
Command Purpose
Step1 Attach a PC or workstation with emulation software to the switch console
port.
The default data characteristics of the console port are 9600 , 8, 1, no
parity. You might need to press the Return key several times to see the
command-line prompt.
Step2 enable password password Enter privileged EXEC mode.
Step3 configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step4 line vty 0 15 Configure the number of Telnet sessions (lines), and enter line
configuration mode.
There are 16 possible sessions on a command-capable switch. The 0
and 15 mean that you are configuring all 16 possible Telnet sessions.
Step5 password password Enter a Telnet password for the line or lines.
For password, specify a string from 1 to 25 alphanumeric char acters. The
string cannot start with a number, is case sensitive, and allows spaces but
ignores leading spaces. By default, no password is defined.
Step6 end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step7 show running-config Verify your entries.
The password is listed under the command line vty 0 15.
Step8 copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.