Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Password-Recovery Procedure: Platforms Running Current Cisco IOS
Releases
Recent Cisco platforms run from Flash memory or are booted from the network and can ignore the
contents of nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) upon booting. (Cisco 7000 series routers that boot from Flash
memory or netboot have this capability as well; a Cisco 7000 that boots from ROM has this capability
if it is running Cisco IOS Release 10.0 or later.) Ignoring the contents of NVRAM permits you to bypass
the configuration file (which contains the passwords) and to gain complete access to the router. You can
then recover the lost password or configure a new one.
If your password is encrypted, you cannot recover it. You must configure a new password
.
Note
Figure 25-1 shows a flowchart describing the password-recovery procedure for the following platforms:
•
Cisco 2000, Cisco 2500, Cisco 3000, and Cisco 4000 series access servers and routers
•
Cisco 7000 series routers running Software Release 9.17(4) and later from Flash or Cisco IOS
Release 10.0 or later from ROM
•
Cisco IGS routers running Software Release 9.1 or later
•
Cisco CGS, MGS, AGS, and AGS+ routers running Software Release 9.1(7) or later
•
Cisco 7000 series routers running Software Release 9.17(4) through 9.21 from ROM
Some of these platforms are configurable in software. Others require that you physically change the
position of the configuration register jumper on the processor card. Figure 25-1 shows diverging paths,
when necessary, to take you through the steps required for the platform and software with which you are
working.
Refer to Table 25-5 to determine whether the platform with which you are working is configurable in
software, or if it requires you to physically move the jumper.
