Setting the Console Password on a Cisco Router

You don't need the 'login' command - its on by default...or what is it you are trying to do here?

Are you saying that you CAN'T login to the console with just the password line? Have you a local user account on the router?

I'm trying to require a password to be entered (i.e. cisco) when getting into the router and before even getting to the 'user exec mode' prompt.
It would seem that after I set the password 'cisco' and then run the command 'login' in order for the password to be required when getting into the router I shouldn't get the error '% Incomplete command.' and that's why when I currently console in to the router I go immediately to the 'user exec mode' prompt i.e. in my case:
r2

Router(config)#line console 0
Router(config-line)#password cisco
Router(config-line)#login
% Incomplete command.

Right - but have you these lines in your config? Are you using AAA by any chance? Or local users on the device itself to authenticate/login?

conf t
aaa new-model
aaa authentication login default local
aaa authorization exec default local

Those 3 commands basically mean use 'local' logins on the router for auth...have you either of those in your running config?

What version IOS are you running on this? 12? 15?

Yes. I have:
 
aaa new-model
aaa session-id common

IOS version is 12.4

What about


aaa authentication login default local
aaa authorization exec default local

Without those local logins will not work...

Ran the 'sho run' command once again and both :

aaa authentication login default local
aaa authorization exec default local

are not there...

There is a 'no logging console' line item there though

FYI. I am directly connected to the router with the console cable...

Added the lines:

aaa authentication login default local
aaa authorization exec default local

as described....

Using HyperTerminal (directly connected via Console) now requires the appropriate username and password combo to even get into user mode.

And both lines are in my running configuration...

Thanks for the help. This solved the problem...

Good stuff...cheers...