password-recovery mechanism is disabled

[techie211]

the network admin I replaced didn't leave any password info on the district switches so we're going around and recovering the passwords via cisco's site with reboot. This one switch we cannot change the password using the steps cisco recommends and it's displaying 'the password-recovery mechanism is disabled'. I did a search but didn't come up with anything. Huh Just wondering if anyone knows how to get around this. thanks

 

[AJ1982]

Theres some info further down... be aware of the part about loosing the current config though...

Cheers

AJ

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http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products...s_configuration_example09186a00801d8113.shtml

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AJ - (Formerly FatmanSuperstar)

 

[techie211]

thanks but that link only mentions routers. does the same apply for the switch? and can I backup the config without privilege mode?

 

[AJ1982]

Worth a try... Sorry I dont have an equiv switch I can use, well not without loosing my job anyways

===

AJ - (Formerly FatmanSuperstar)

 

[jeter]

What is the model number of the Cisco switch your having problems with?



Spc NVARNG
Tek-TIP Member 19,650

 

[techie211]

2950

 

[jeter]

Are these the steps you already followed?



Step 1 Connect a terminal or PC with terminal emulation software to the console port. For more information, refer to the switch hardware installation guide.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note You can configure your switch for Telnet by following the procedure in the "Accessing the CLI" section.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 2 Set the line speed on the emulation software to 9600 baud.

Step 3 Unplug the switch power cord.

Step 4 Press the Mode button, and at the same time, reconnect the power cord to the switch.

You can release the Mode button a second or two after the LED above port 1X turns off. Several lines of information about the software appear, as do instructions:

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the flash file system. These
commands will initialize the flash file system, and finish loading the operating system
software:
flash_init
load_helper
boot

Step 5 Initialize the Flash file system:

switch# flash_init

Step 6 If you had set the console port speed to anything other than 9600, it has been reset to that particular speed. Change the emulation software line speed to match that of the switch console port.

Step 7 Load any helper files:

switch# load_helper

Step 8 Display the contents of Flash memory as in this example:

switch# dir flash:
Directory of flash:/
3 drwx 10176 Mar 01 2001 00:04:34 html
6 -rwx 2343 Mar 01 2001 03:18:16 config.text
171 -rwx 1667997 Mar 01 2001 00:02:39 c2950-i6q412-mz.121-14.EA1.bin
7 -rwx 3060 Mar 01 2001 00:14:20 vlan.dat
172 -rwx 100 Mar 01 2001 00:02:54 env_vars
7741440 bytes total (3884509 bytes free)
Step 9 Rename the configuration file to config.text.old.

This file contains the password definition.

switch# rename flash:config.text flash:config.text.old
Step 10 Boot the system:

switch# boot
You are prompted to start the setup program. Enter N at the prompt:

Continue with the configuration dialog? [yes/no]: N

Step 11 At the switch prompt, change to privileged EXEC mode:

switch> enable

Step 12 Rename the configuration file to its original name:

switch# rename flash:config.text.old flash:config.text

Step 13 Copy the configuration file into memory:

switch# copy flash:config.text system:running-config
Source filename [config.text]?
Destination filename [running-config]?
Press Return in response to the confirmation prompts.

The configuration file is now reloaded, and you can use the following normal commands to change the password.

Step 14 Enter global configuration mode:

switch# configure terminal

Step 15 Change the password:

switch(config)# enable secret <password>
or

switch(config)# enable password <password>

Step 16 Return to privileged EXEC mode:

switch(config)# exit
switch#

Step 17 Write the running configuration to the startup configuration file:

switch# copy running-config startup-config
The new password is now included in the startup configuration.





Spc NVARNG
Tek-TIP Member 19,650