Cisco 2950 - Catalyst Switch Configuration Manual page 623

Chapter 32 Troubleshooting
• If you enter n (no), the normal boot process continues as if the Mode button had not been pressed;
you cannot access the boot loader prompt, and you cannot enter a new password. You see the
message:
Press Enter to continue........
• If you enter y (yes), the configuration file in flash memory and the VLAN database file are deleted.
When the default configuration loads, you can reset the password.
Follow these steps when the password-recovery mechanism is disabled:
Elect to continue with password recovery and lose the existing configuration:
Step 1
Would you like to reset the system back to the default configuration (y/n)? Y
Load any helper files:
Step 2
Switch# load_helper
Step 3 Display the contents of flash memory:
switch# dir flash:
The switch file system appears in the directory.
Step 4 Boot the system:
Switch# boot
You are prompted to start the setup program. To continue with password recovery, enter N at the prompt:
Continue with the configuration dialog? [yes/no]: N
At the switch prompt, enter privileged EXEC mode:
Step 5
Switch> enable
Enter global configuration mode:
Step 6
Switch# configure terminal
Step 7 Change the password:
Switch (config)# enable secret password
The secret password can be from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters, can start with a number, is case
sensitive, and allows spaces but ignores leading spaces.
Step 8 Return to privileged EXEC mode:
Switch (config)# exit
Switch#
Step 9 Write the running configuration to the startup configuration file:
Switch# copy running-config startup-config
The new password is now in the startup configuration.
78-11380-10
Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
Using Recovery Procedures
32-7