2500 series router showing "No password set" when trying to "en" while connected via serial cable

[David Anderson]

I am using a 2500 series router with an octal-cable as an access server to my router / switch stack, and turning it on today I found a couple of issues, and I am having trouble finding the answer to this niche issue.

I have a direct Serial connection from my laptop to the 2500, and after booting up (I didn't have putty open during the boot sequence) I got incrementing lines when I hit enter like 2a: 45fa3c4, 3d: 24ff123a, etc each time I hit enter.

So I figured it hit a snag in booting, power cycled, and the boot did not actually show anything except an odd little character " ▒ "

I tried to do an 'enable' on the router and got this:

ASR>en
% No password set

I am still able to telnet to my routers / switches while in user-priv mode, but concerned that this is like the dying breath of the router, and if there is anything this indicates / anything I can do to fix this.

Any input greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Dennis Mink]

put a local userID and password in with pirvilege 15 and on your login vty 0 4 and or console:

add login local

[David Anderson]

I unfortunately need to be in global configuration to add login local, whereas I can't get to the enable prompt.

[Dennis Mink]

If you are on the console and you still cant confgure it. there is no other way but to do a password recovery to regain access to your router. 

check this on how to do that:   https://supportforums.cisco.com/kxiwq67737/attachments/kxiwq67737/5736-discussions-physical-security/511/1/71567-pswdrec_2500.pdf

[Deepak Kumar]

Hi,
I hope your console cable is connected to aux port instead of the console port. Please verify.

Regards,
Deepak Kumar

[David Anderson]

Yes sir, the 2500 series access server has the laptop plugged into the AUX port, and the octal cable running to the routers / switches connect to their console ports.

[Deepak Kumar · Accepted solution]

Hi, 

Log in using the console or telnet and set the enable password on the router. 

I hope you configured "privilege level 15" command under the line VTY, so it is not asked for enable password using telnet.

Regards,

Deepak Kumar 

[David Anderson]

Ok so the stupid thing is, the cable is supposed to be in the console port and NOT the Aux port.

As soon as I plugged into the Console port, I was able to en on the 2500 no problem, and access my router / switch rack.

Not sure why I thought the 2500 was supposed to be Aux, thank you for all the suggestions!