Bypass or reset console password

[charris01101]

Hello community,

I'm in a bit of a pickle and I'm hoping someone can help. Long story short, I have a Cisco 4431 router that is used as the gateway router for my company's Wireless. Somehow I must have mistyped the console password when I first installed the router because I can't get in from the console now. Unfortunately, that is the only way I have to access it because ssh/telnet is not configured and I really need to access this router to make some changes. Is there a way to bypass the console password/login so I can make my changes and reset the password. I feel so stupid to be in this predicament. If someone could help me I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks.

[Francesco Molino · Accepted solution]

Hi

You'll need to do a recovery password procedure and this will have an impact because a reboot is required.
Here the doc:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/4400/troubleshooting/guide/isr4400trbl/isr4400trbl02.html

[charris01101]

Maybe I'm missing something if I am I apologize, but how do I change the register so it will boot to ROMOM if I can't log in. I remember on the 2900 series I had to remove the compact flash but for the 4000 series says "To get to ROMMON, set the confreg to not auto boot (0x0 if your baud rate is 9600), and then reload the box."Can I do this at the username/password prompt? Again, I apologize for my ignorance.

[Francesco Molino · Accepted solution]

To access rommon, you need to interrupt the boot process using ctrl +c

Connect to the router in console mode, reboot it and you will see a message that you need to do ctrl +c to interrupt.

After that you can follow the procedure.

[charris01101]

Thanks!!

[Francesco Molino · Accepted solution]

You're welcome

[keidell]

Hi Francesco,

I am attempting to do a password recovery on a 4431 switch with the link you provided, however when I reach the step rommon2> reset, when the router boots it is still asking for a username and password which is unknown.

Any idea how to resolve this issue?

[Hishaam.Edries]

NOTE = original(normal) confreg = 0x2102

Change confreg:
1 - on boot = cntr + c

Note original confreg:

2 - rommon 1>confreg

Note - say no to change config settings in above

Change confreg:
3 - rommon 2> confreg 0x2142

4 - rommon 3> reset

Router boots but bypasses config:

5 - router>en
6 - router#copy start run

Here is where you change the username and password:
7 - Router_name(config)#username cisco password cisco

Put the config-reg back to what it was:
8 - Router_name(config)#config-register 0x2102
9 - Router_name(config)#end
10 - Router_name#wr
11 - Router_name#reload

when router is back to normal startup - make sure config register is back to normal 0x2102

12 - Router_name#show ver

[jamesmarshall]

edit: nvm this did not work for me