Password Recovery for Cisco Catalyst 2900XL, 3500XL, 2950, and 3550 Series Switches: Cisco, Catalyst, Password Recovery, Switch

The worst thing when starting a new job is when the previous Network Administrator left behind no documentation. How do you get into the devices? If you've been in this situation or just accidently mistyped your password, this article will hopefully shed some light on your problem.

1: Console to the device
Console into your switch using a console cable an a program such as HyperTerminal, CRT, SecureCRT or Putty.

2: Enter recovery mode
Unplug the power cable. Then, plug the power cable back in WHILE holding the mode button located on the front panel of the switch.

Note: For 2900/3500XL and 3550 Series switches, release the mode button after the LED above port 1 turns off. For 2950 Series switches, release the mode button after the STAT LED goes out.

3: Initialize the flash

switch: flash_init

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4: Issue the load_helper command

switch: load_helper
switch:

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5: View the flash

switch: dir flash:

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6: Rename the current configuration file

switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.old
switch:

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7: Boot the device
Type "boot" and press enter.

switch: boot

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8: Cancel the the system setup

--- System Configuration Dialog ---
At any point you may enter a question mark '?' for help.
Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at any prompt.
Default settings are in square brackets '[]'.
Continue with configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n 


Press RETURN to get started.

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9: Enter enabled mode

Switch>en
Switch#

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10: Rename the configuration

Switch#rename flash:config.text system:running-config

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11: Copy the configuration into the running-configuration

Switch#copy flash:config.text system:running-config

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12: Change the password

Switch#configure terminal
Switch(config)#no enable secret 
Switch(config)#enable password NEWPASSWORD

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13: Save your new password

Switch#write memory

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Password Recovery for Cisco Catalyst 2900XL, 3500XL, 2950, and 3550 Series Switches

Console to the device

Enter recovery mode

Initialize the flash

Issue the load_helper command

View the flash

Rename the current configuration file

Boot the device

Cancel the the system setup

Enter enabled mode

Rename the configuration

Copy the configuration into the running-configuration

Change the password

Save your new password

Cisco

Catalyst

Password Recovery

Switch

Network Switches & Hubs

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