Old Cisco Switch needs password reset

[BartaudLescault]

I have one Cisco Router 2800 Series, two Cisco Catalyst 3500XL and one Cisco Catalyst 3550 which need a password reset.

I'm going to start my CCNA studies and I'm planning to use these Cisco equipment for it.

When I connected them through the Serial Port COM1 running the program SecureCRT and I tried to go from User Mode to Privileged Mode they are asking for a password which I do not know.

These are old Cisco equipment the company I work for doesn't use anymore and my company is sending me to study CCNA and I would like to have "Hands On" practice on them.

What do you recommend to do?

Any information about it would be really appreciated if you send it to my E-Mail: ittech5253@gmail.com

[chrihussey]

Here is the password recovery procedure for the 2800:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/routers/2600-series-multiservice-platforms/22188-pswdrec-2600.html

And for the 3500 switches:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-2950-series-switches/12040-pswdrec-2900xl.html

Hope this helps

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

IT WORKS!!!!

Thank you very very much for your help.

Now I can have "Hands On" in my CCNA studies.

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

I'm sorry for disturb again. The password recovery procedure for the Cisco Catalyst Switch worked perfectly but the Cisco password procedure for the Cisco 2800 Router didn't work.

After I typed confreg 0x2142 in the rommon 1 prompt and I typed reset in the rommon 2 prompt always came back to the rommon 1 prompt and nothing else happened.

I'm attaching the captured screen file.

What do you recommend to do?

[chrihussey]

Looks like you typed 02142 and not 0x2142. Might be the issue. Try that.

If not do a ? at the rommon prompt and send the output.

Also, if this isn't working put the config reg back to 0x2102 just to make sure you can get back to the way it was.

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

I tried again confreg 0x2142 and rest and it didn't work.

I tried confreg 0x2102 and reset and after that confreg 0x2142 and reset and still it didn't work.

Always comes back to Rommon 1 prompt.

What else do you recommend to do?

[chrihussey]

Tough call in this format. I'd be afraid to have you do something and wreck your router. Couple things maybe.

Have you tried the common idiot passwords just to see if you get lucky? (cisco, admin, password, cisco123, etc?)

Can you send to output of ? in rommon to see what choices there are?

In rommon mode, can you type confreg then return without the 0x2142? Will it step you through setting the options? If so just select the one option that ignores the startup config.

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

Router never asked me for a password. Always it goes to the Rommon 1 prompt.

[chrihussey]

Ahhh. So the config register isn't the issue,  you have a router without IOS.

Does that seem like a better assessment?

If so, is there an rommon menu available to see if there is an IOS somewhere on the router?

If the router has no IOS, you would have to load new IOS. Newer versions of rommon (on some platforms) allowed for TFTP, but you may have to xmodem it on the router, which is a long process. 2800 series are no longer supported by Cisco, but here's a link:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/routers/2600-series-multiservice-platforms/15085-xmodem-generic.html

I checked and it looks like CCO still provides IOS for the 2800s. So if you need one and have a valid account it should be available. If not I think it is responsibility of whomever you purchased the router from to supply you with a router with an IOS.

Glad that you were able to get the switches working but this might be a tougher nut to crack.

[chrihussey]

This just came to me. Your router may be missing the external flash card altogether. This is where the IOS would be stored.

In the boot sequence prior to going into rommon mode, it states:

"FLASH:Compact flash not present"

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/2800/hardware/installation/guide/hw/01_hw.html

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/2800/hardware/installation/guide/hw/11_hw.html

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

I downloaded the following .bin IOS c2801 files:

c2801-adventerpriseK9-mz.124-25d.bin

c2801-entservicesk9-mz.124-24.T8.bin

Which one would be the best IOS?

How to install this IOS in the Router 2800?

[chrihussey]

Please see my earlier post:

This just came to me. Your router may be missing the external flash card altogether. This is where the IOS would be stored. Does it have one?

In the boot sequence prior to going into rommon mode, it states:

"FLASH:Compact flash not present"

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/2800/hardware/instal...

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/2800/hardware/instal...

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

The external flash card slot is empty.

What can I do?

[chrihussey]

Not sure where you got the router from, but it should have came with it.

The Cisco part number is "MEM2800-128CF="

Other than that it looks like it's readily available for purchase over the Internet.

[BartaudLescault]

chrihussey:

I'm going to buy a Flash Card online and when I receive it, I will tell you and ask for help installing IOS.

Thanks for you help.