Password Recovery Procedure for the Cisco 1600 Series Router

Introduction

This document describes the password recovery procedure for the Cisco 1600 series routers.

Step-by-Step Procedure

  1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of the router. Use the following terminal settings:
    2. 9600 baud rate
    No parity
    8 data bits
    1 stop bit
    No flow control

  2. Type show version and record the setting of the configuration register; it is usually 0x2102 or 0x102.

    3. Note: Do not continue to step 3 until you record the setting of the configuration register. In step 14 of this password recovery procedure, you must reset the configuration register to the setting that you record in this step.

  3. Using the power switch, turn off the router and then turn it on.

  4. Press Break on the terminal keyboard within 60 seconds of the powerup to put the router into ROMMON.

    5. If the break sequence doesn't work, you can try CTRL+BREAK or possibly sending it through an ASCII code.

  5. Type confreg 0x2142 at the rommon 1> prompt to boot from Flash without loading the configuration.

  6. Type reset at the rommon 2> prompt.

    7. The router reboots but ignores its saved configuration.

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

  8. Type enable at the Router> prompt.

    9. You'll be in enable mode and see the Router# prompt.

  9. Important: Type config mem or copy start running to copy the nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) into memory. Do not type config term.

  10. Type wr term or show running.

    11. The show running and wr term commands show the configuration of the router. In this configuration you see under all the interfaces the shutdown command, which means all interfaces are currently shutdown. Also, you can see the passwords either in encrypted or unencrypted format.

  11. Type config term and make the changes.

    The prompt is now hostname(config)#.

  12. Type enable secret <password>.

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

  14. Type config-register 0x2102, or the value you recorded in step 2.

  15. Press Ctrl-z to leave the configuration mode.

    16. The prompt is now hostname#.

  16. Type write mem or copy running startup to commit the changes.

Example of Password Recovery Procedure

The example below presents an actual password recovery procedure. We created this example using a Cisco 2600. Even if you are not using a Cisco 2600, this example will be almost exactly what you 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.
--More-- 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 start run
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 cisco
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)#int Ethernet0/0
Router(config-if)#no shut
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)#int BRI0/0
Router(config-if)#no shut
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 run start
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.
--More-- 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-reg 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.
--More-- 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#