Not able to go into Rommon

[Jahangir Tahirov]

Hello, I have used Cisco 1921, and we forgot its login and password. I am trying to go into rommode for password recovery but am not able to.

During router boot-up process I am using special command >

Break 

to force rommode , router shows " Readonly ROMMON initialized
program load complete, entry point: 0x80903000, size: 0x4c4a0 " , but not goes to the rommode , its just going normal bootup.

Any suggestions?

[balaji.bandi]

Turn off the Router , make sure you capture complete boot log for us to understand (why i am keen to looking is the pasword recovery disabled ?)

follow below guide :

https://community.cisco.com/t5/networking-documents/resetting-router-to-factory-default-removing-the-startup/ta-p/3131114

Putty com settings :  9600, 8,1,None, None

[Jahangir Tahirov]

System Bootstrap, Version 15.0(1r)M16, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2012 by cisco Systems, Inc.

Total memory size = 512 MB
CISCO1921/K9 platform with 524288 Kbytes of main memory
Main memory is configured to 64 bit mode with ECC disabled

Readonly ROMMON initialized
program load complete, entry point: 0x80903000, size: 0x4c4a0
program load complete, entry point: 0x80903000, size: 0x4c4a0

IOS Image Load Test
___________________
Digitally Signed Release Software
program load complete, entry point: 0x81000000, size: 0x495662c
Self decompressing the image : ####################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################### [OK]

Smart Init is enabled
smart init is sizing iomem
TYPE MEMORY_REQ
HWIC Slot 0 0x00200000
Onboard devices &
buffer pools 0x01E8F000
-----------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 0x0208F000

Rounded IOMEM up to: 36MB.
Using 7 percent iomem. [36MB/512MB]

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 IOS Software, C1900 Software (C1900-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.5(1)T1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2015 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Mon 02-Mar-15 03:26 by prod_rel_team

This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United
States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and
use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply
third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.
Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for
compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you
agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable
to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:
http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
export@cisco.com.

Installed image archive
Cisco CISCO1921/K9 (revision 1.0) with 487424K/36864K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FJC2051L39D
2 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
1 Serial interface
1 terminal line
1 Virtual Private Network (VPN) Module
DRAM configuration is 64 bits wide with parity disabled.
255K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
250864K bytes of USB Flash usbflash0 (Read/Write)

SETUP: new interface NVI0 placed in "shutdown" state

Press RETURN to get started!

[balaji.bandi]

ok, thank you, did the break works? still, issue?

[Jahangir Tahirov]

no break not helping, you can see from the complete boot logs when I sent break command it shows this: Readonly ROMMON initialized
program load complete, entry point: 0x80903000, size: 0x4c4a0
program load complete, entry point: 0x80903000, size: 0x4c4a0

but not entering rommode.

[balaji.bandi]

This may be a Terminal client issue, try different clients other than putty, or try downloading the latest one and try.

after boot are you able to issue any command see console cable is ok ?

[SS2020]

Hello,

How did you sort this issue please? i  have the same issues

[CyrusKain]

Check your console cable especially if it’s a 3rd party cable. Some 3rd party cables don’t work properly to get into ROMMON. I’d change it regardless. 

[sromerob · Accepted solution]

There are times that your terminal software is not able to send the break signal correctly, it could be an issue with your cable, the drivers or even the program itself.

You can try reinstalling the drivers for your console cable or use a different terminal program to login into the console.

If any of that works, as a last resource, you can try to remove the flash, the IOS is stored there, without any IOS the device will try to boot but after some consecutive failures will stay in rommon. You can change the configuration register then and install the flash back into the router.

Here is the procedure to remove the flash for your reference:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/1900/hardware/installation/guide/19cf.html

[Jahangir Tahirov]

@sromerob  thank you for your information, the problem was solved, it was a console cable problem.

[CyrusKain]

Much appreciated for this response.  I stumbled upon the same problem, and it was my console cable as well.  I even replaced that cable with an identical cable and the 2nd one worked while the first did not.  This one had me stumped for a bit.  Thanks!!

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

indeed a different terminal emulator (other than Putty) might let you send the BREAK (via the keyboard). Below is a list of available alternatives:

Solar-PuTTY.
KiTTY.
Bitvise SSH Client.
PuTTYTray.
SuperPuTTY.
MobaXterm.
mRemoteNG.
Xshell.