My-Network.INFO

How to recover the password on a Cisco 2600 and 2800 Series router

This document describes how to recover the enable password and the enable secret passwords.
The enable password can be recovered, but the enable secret is encrypted and must be replaced with a new password.

Use the following procedures in order to replace the enable secret:

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


2. If you can access the router, type show version at the prompt, and record the configuration register setting.
   
   Note: The configuration register is usually set to 0x2102 or 0x102. If you can no longer access the router you can safely assume that your configuration register is set to 0x2102.


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


4. Press Break on the terminal keyboard within 60 seconds of power up in order to put the router into ROMMON.


5. Type confreg 0x2142 at the rommon 1> prompt in order to boot from Flash.
   
   This step bypasses the startup configuration where the passwords are stored.


6. Type reset at the rommon 2> prompt.
   
   The router reboots, but ignores the saved configuration.


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


8. Type enable at the Router> prompt.
   
   You are in enable mode and should see the Router# prompt.


9. Type configure memory or copy startup-config running-config in order to copy the nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) into memory.
   
   Important: Do not type copy running-config startup-config or write. These commands erase your startup configuration.


10. Type show running-config.
    
    The show running-config command shows the configuration of the router. In this configuration, the shutdown command appears under all interfaces, which indicates all interfaces are currently shut down. 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.


11. Type configure terminal.
    
    The hostname(config)# prompt appears.


12. Type enable secret [password] in order to change the enable secret password. For example:
    
    • hostname(config)#enable secret cisco


13. Issue the no shutdown command on every interface that you use.
    
    If you issue a show ip interface brief command, every interface that you want to use should display up up.


14. Type config-register [configuration_register_setting]. Where configuration_register_setting is either the value you recorded in step 2 or 0x2102 . For example:
    
    • hostname(config)#config-register 0x2102
    
    
15. Press Ctrl-z or end in order to leave the configuration mode.
    
    The hostname# prompt appears.


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

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