HELP: switch 2960 reset no password

[ncanceill]

Hello every one,

I have performed a factory reset on a Cisco Catalyst 2960S 24PD-L (manufactured January 2011, firmware v12.2(55)) by holding the mode button for more than 10 seconds, as explained in the provided Quick Start Guide (OL-19793-01, p. 28).

It should now "behave like an unconfigured switch". Thus the password should have been reset to its factory default value: "cisco". But it has not, and neither has it kept the value previously used.

The switch works but the management is locked. ANY HELP will be hugely appreciated.

Thank you and regards.

[IAN WHITMORE]

Did you try just pressing enter i.e. blank password?

If not, use this guide:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/products_password_recovery09186a0080094184.shtml

Regards,

Ian

[Latchum Naidu]

Hi,

Find the below steps to recovery password for Cisco 2960.

Step 1:

Power off the switch first, then press and hold the mode button while you power on the switch again. Hold it for about 15 seconds until the SYS led is solid green, and then release it.

The switch should then give you this prompt:

switch:

Step 2:

To initialize the flash file system, run the command:

switch: flash_init
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 5 files, 1 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 32514048
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 8059904
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 24454144
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 10 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.

The switch will now print a bunch of messages about the flash memory, hopefully one of them will be ‘done initializing flash’ as above shown

Step 3:

You can now list the contents of your flash by running

switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash: /
2 -rwx 12300 config.text
4 -rwx 1906 private-config.text
5 -rwx 676 vlan.dat
6 -rwx 8040418 c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin
7 -rwx 2072 multiple-fs

There should be a file named ‘config.text’, as you can rename this file as follows:

switch: rename flash:config.text flash: oldconfig.backup

Step 4:

To further boot the switch run the boot command as:
switch: boot

This will start the boot you are used to. When the switch is booted up, you will realize that the configuration is gone. But you are enabled on the switch now.

Step 5:

To recover the old configuration:

Switch#rename flash: oldconfig.backup flash:config.text

And now to replace the running configuration with the backup

Switch#copy flash: config.text running-config
Destination filename [running-config]?

Press enter, and you will have your old switch configuration back and you are enabled.
Just remember to change your password now !

Please click on the correct answer on all posts if they answered your question.
Regards,
Naidu.

[ncanceill]

Latchum Naidu,

I assume this is the simplest way available...

You skipped the part where you connect to the switch, I assume console port and Telnet connection? Do you know if the console port acts as DHCP on 10.0.0.1? or will it use a DHCP connected to the main VLAN?

Thanks.

[amrsamir911]

Hi

I have the same problem, i had made a software upgarde on the switch 2960G series have no any passwords, when I fished the upgrade process after rebooting the device i found it need a User\Pw to access device manager. i tried to use the default PW "cisco" but it dosen't work too.. after that i tried the password recovery process to rest the PW, but noway, but now i have addition problem, when i try the cmd orders "flash_init , load_helper , dir flash" to beginning  the password recovery process it shows the following:

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the
flash filesystem.  The following commands will initialize
the flash filesystem, and finish loading the operating
system software:

    flash_init
    boot

switch: flash_init
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 554 files, 19 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 32514048
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 15540224
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 16973824
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 10 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.

switch: load_helper
Unknown cmd: load_helper

switch: load_helper
Unknown cmd: load_helper

switch: load_helper
Unknown cmd: load_helper

switch: dir flash
unable to stat flash/: no such device

switch: load_helper
Unknown cmd: load_helper

switch: dir flash
unable to stat flash/: no such device

Sorry for language mistakes

[hanslossman]

Thanks worked perfect for me!

[onyebguleobinna]

thank u for your great help!

[AlexDCguy]

Had issue with step 5. That's what worked for me: 

Step 5:

To recover the old configuration:

switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.text.old

Thank you!

[ncanceill]

Ian Whitmore,

Yes, I tried the blank password, did not work either.

My question mostly was: can I get the switch to perform a reset factory including the password, instead of going through the painfully long password recovery process?

Thanks.

[Latchum Naidu · Accepted solution]

Hi Nicolas,

You can go to factory default in a simple way but to get the enable or any password you must follow the password recovery.

See the below link will help you...
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/12.2_25_see/configuration/guide/swtrbl.html#wp1090048

Please click on the correct answer on all posts if they answered your question.
Regards,
Naidu.

[ncanceill]

Thank you Latchum.

I will let you know if this works.

By the way, it would be nice from Cisco to point out that a factory reset does not reset the password to its factory default (and does not keep the old password either).

[Latchum Naidu]

Hi,

Also remember to rate all the helpfull posts which will encourage others in the forum.

Please click on the correct answer on all posts if they answered your question.
Regards,
Naidu.

[ncanceill]

The password recovery method worked.

Let me point out that it would have been nice if a Cisco guy had the idea of writing somewhere in the user's manual "factory reset disables ALL passwords, you will not be able to log in to the switch anymore, so DO NOT do that".

Big thanks to every one.

[jan.rolfes]

Hello,

i have the same problem, but it is not possible for me to type in "flash_init" only "boot" is possible.

All other returns: Unknown cmd:

My Switch is a Cisco Catalyst 2960-L.

You can see the problem in the screenshot. I connect by Putty with COM console cable.

The crazy thing is, that this switch is complete new. Buyed last week. But i can not login with cisco/cisco or Cisco/Cisco or cisco/Cisco.

Also when i connect by a LAN Port i got automatic by DHCP the IP: 192.168.1.2 and not 10.0.0.2 (Gateway: 192.168.1.1)

Thanks for help.

[jan.rolfes]

I have found another manual in the internet. There was a password called c2960lsm

This has worked fine.