Router (26xx and 28xx Series) Password Recovery

Procedure 1

Complete these steps in order to recover your password:

Step 1: Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of the router. Use these

terminal settings:

9600 baud rate

No parity

8 data bits

1 stop bit

No flow control

Step 2: If you can access the router, type at the prompt, and record the configuration show version

register setting.

(Note: The configuration register is usually set to 0x2102 or 0x102. If you can no longer access the

router (because of a lost login or TACACS password), you can safely assume that your configuration

register is set to 0x2102.)

Figure 1 Router Terminal

Router (26xx and 28xx Series) Password Recovery

Step 3: Use the power switch in order to turn off the router, and then turn the router back on.

Step 4: Press Break on the terminal keyboard within 60 seconds of power up in order to put the router

into ROMmon.

If the break sequence does not work, refer to Standard Break Key Sequence Combinations During

Password Recovery for other key combinations.

Step 5: Type at the prompt in order to boot from Flash. confreg 0x2142 rommon 1>

This step bypasses the startup configuration where the passwords are stored.

Step 6: Type at the prompt. reset rommon 2>

The router reboots, but ignores the saved configuration.

Step 7: Type after each setup question, or press in order to skip the initial setup procedure. no Ctrl−C

Step 8: Type enable at the prompt. Router>

You are in enable mode and should see the prompt. Router#

Step 9: Type configure memory or in order to copy the non-volatile copy startup−config running−config

RAM (NVRAM) into memory.

(Note: Do not type . These commands erase your startup copy running−config startup−config or write

configuration.)

Step 10: Type . show running−config

The command shows the configuration of the router. In this configuration, the show running−config

command appears under all interfaces, which indicates all interfaces are currently shut down. shutdown

In addition, the passwords (enable password, enable secret, vty, console passwords) are in either an

encrypted or unencrypted format. You can reuse unencrypted passwords. You must change encrypted

passwords to a new password.

Step 11: Type . configure terminal

The prompt appears. hostname(config)#

Step 12: Type in order to change the enable secret password. For example: enable secret <password>

hostname(config)#enable secret cisco

Step 13: Issue the command on every interface that you use. no shutdown

If you issue a command, every interface that you want to use should display up show ip interface brief

up.

Router (26xx and 28xx Series) Password Recovery

Step 14: Type . Where configuration_register_setting is config−register <configuration_register_setting>

either the value you recorded in step 2 or 0x2102 . For example:

hostname(config)#config−register 0x2102

Step 15: Press or end in order to leave the configuration mode. Ctrl−z

The prompt appears. hostname#

Step 16: Type or in order to commit the changes. write memory copy running−config startup−config

Procedure 2

Complete these steps in order to recover your password:

Step 1: Shut down the router.

Step 2: Remove the compact flash that is at the back of the router.

Step 3: Power on the router.

Step 4: Once the prompt appears, enter this command: Rommon1> confreg 0x2142

Step 5: Insert the compact flash.

Step 6: Type . reset

Step 7: When you are prompted to enter the initial configuration, type , and press Enter. No

Step 8: At the prompt, type enable. Router>

Step 9: At the prompt, enter the command, and press Enter in order to copy Router# configure memory

the startup configuration to the running configuration.

Step 10: Use the command in order to enter global configuration mode. config t

Step 11: Use this command in order to create a new user name and password:

router(config)#username cisco privilege 15 password cisco