Document ID: 22188
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This document describes how to recover the enable password and the enable secret passwords. These passwords protect access to privileged EXEC and configuration modes. The enable password password can be recovered, but the enable secret password is encrypted and must be replaced with a new password. Use the procedure described in this document in order to replace the enable secret password.
There are no specific requirements for this document.
The information in this document is based on these hardware versions:
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Cisco 2600 Series Router
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Cisco 2800 Series Router
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.
Refer to for information on how to recover passwords for related products.
Refer to for information on document conventions.
Follow these steps in order to recover your password:
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Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of the router.
Use these terminal settings:
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9600 baud rate
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No parity
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8 data bits
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1 stop bit
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No flow control
Refer to these documents for information on how to cable and connect a terminal to the console port or the AUX port:
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If you can access the router, type show version at the prompt, and record the configuration register setting. See in order to view the output of a show version command
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.
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Use the power switch in order to turn off the router, and then turn the router back on.
Important Notes:
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In order to simulate this step on a Cisco 6400, pull out and then plug in the Node Route Processor (NRP) or Node Switch Processor (NSP) card.
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In order to simulate this step on a Cisco 6x00 with NI-2, pull out and then plug in the NI-2 card.
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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 for other key combinations.
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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.
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Type reset at the rommon 2> prompt.
The router reboots, but ignores the saved configuration.
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Type no after each setup question, or press Ctrl-C in order to skip the initial setup procedure.
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Type enable at the Router> prompt.
You are in enable mode and should see the Router# prompt.
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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.
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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.
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Type configure terminal.
The hostname(config)# prompt appears.
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Type enable secret <password> in order to change the enable secret password. For example:
hostname(config)#enable secret cisco
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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.
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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
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Press Ctrl-z or end in order to leave the configuration mode.
The hostname# prompt appears.
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Type write memory or copy running-config startup-config in order to commit the changes.
This section provides an example of the password recovery procedure. This example was created with a Cisco 2600 Series Router. Even if you do not use a Cisco 2600 Series Router, this output provides an example of what you should experience on your product.
Router>enable Password: Password: Password: % Bad secrets Router>show version Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8 ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Router uptime is 3 minutes System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60 System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T" cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory. Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963) M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49 Bridging software. X.25 software, Version 3.0.0. Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1. 2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s) 2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s) 1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s) 32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory. 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write) 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write) Configuration register is 0x2102 Router> !--- The router was just powercycled, and during bootup a !--- break sequence was sent to the router. ! *** System received an abort due to Break Key *** signal= 0x3, code= 0x500, context= 0x813ac158 PC = 0x802d0b60, Vector = 0x500, SP = 0x80006030 rommon 1 > confreg 0x2142 You must reset or power cycle for new config to take effect rommon 2 > reset System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Copyright (c) 1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. TAC:Home:SW:IOS:Specials for info C2600 platform with 32768 Kbytes of main memory program load complete, entry point: 0x80008000, size: 0x6fdb4c Self decompressing the image : ############################### ############################################################## ############################################################## ############################################################## ############################### [OK] Restricted Rights Legend Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted Rights clause at FAR sec. 52.227-19 and subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS sec. 252.227-7013. cisco Systems, Inc. 170 West Tasman Drive San Jose, California 95134-1706 Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8 cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory. Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963) M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49 Bridging software. X.25 software, Version 3.0.0. Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1. 2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s) 2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s) 1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s) 32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory. 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write) 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write) --- System Configuration Dialog --- Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n Press RETURN to get started! 00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0, changed state to up 00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up 00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/1, changed state to up 00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/0, changed state to down 00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/1, changed state to down 00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0, changed state to down 00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up Router> 00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/1, changed state to up 00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Serial0/0, changed state to down 00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Serial0/1, changed state to down 00:00:50: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted -- Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye 00:00:50: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface BRI0/0, changed state to administratively down 00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to administratively down 00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial0/0, changed state to administratively down 00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Ethernet0/1, changed state to administratively down 00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial0/1, changed state to administratively down 00:00:53: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to down 00:00:53: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/1, changed state to down Router> Router>enable Router#copy startup-config running-config Destination filename [running-config]? 1324 bytes copied in 2.35 secs (662 bytes/sec) Router# 00:01:24: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0:1, changed state to down 00:01:24: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0:2, changed state to down Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)#enable secret < password > Router(config)#^Z 00:01:54: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console Router#show ip interface brief Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol Ethernet0/0 10.200.40.37 YES TFTP administratively down down Serial0/0 unassigned YES TFTP administratively down down BRI0/0 193.251.121.157 YES unset administratively down down BRI0/0:1 unassigned YES unset administratively down down BRI0/0:2 unassigned YES unset administratively down down Ethernet0/1 unassigned YES TFTP administratively down down Serial0/1 unassigned YES TFTP administratively down down Loopback0 193.251.121.157 YES TFTP up up Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)#interface Ethernet0/0 Router(config-if)#no shutdown Router(config-if)# 00:02:14: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up 00:02:15: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up Router(config-if)#interface BRI0/0 Router(config-if)#no shutdown Router(config-if)# 00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0:1, changed state to down 00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0:2, changed state to down 00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0, changed state to up 00:02:115964116991: %ISDN-6-LAYER2UP: Layer 2 for Interface BR0/0, TEI 68 changed to up Router(config-if)#^Z Router# 00:02:35: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console Router#copy running-config startup-config Destination filename [startup-config]? Building configuration... [OK] Router#show version Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8 ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Router uptime is 3 minutes System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60 System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T" cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory. Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963) M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49 Bridging software. X.25 software, Version 3.0.0. Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1. 2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s) 2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s) 1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s) 32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory. 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write) 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write) Configuration register is 0x2142 Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)#config-register 0x2102 Router(config)#^Z 00:03:20: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console Router#show version Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8 ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Router uptime is 3 minutes System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60 System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T" cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory. Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963) M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49 Bridging software. X.25 software, Version 3.0.0. Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1. 2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s) 2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s) 1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s) 32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory. 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write) 8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write) Configuration register is 0x2142 (will be 0x2102 at next reload) Router#