12-27-2013 08:54 PM - edited 03-07-2019 05:16 PM
I have been trying to perform password recovery on a ws-6504-e switch/router. I followed the quide to change the confreg and perform ctrl-break after the boot process shows that it has switched to the RP.
I am unable to determine where the configuration data is stored that is affecting this. I have looked in bootdisk: and bootflash: Where is the enable configuration information stored? I have tried to edit a startup-conf file on bootflash: and the bootdisk: startup.cfg does not have entries for enable password, yet I cannot enter enable mode except when I use the password recovery procedure? What am I doing wrong? Is there another location where the configuration information is kept? A mfg default enable password? I connect via console.
Also, how do I tell if the switch is set as hybrid or native?
The switch changes from SP to RP during bootup. How do I switch to the SP? Assume there is no configuration setup (IP, etc...)
How do I reset the 6504 to default settings if I need to?
12-27-2013 10:03 PM
Hello Robert,
The startup-config is stored on the nvram:
switch#dir nvram:
You will see something like:
6500#dir nvram:
Directory of nvram:/
1 -rw- 8998
2 ---- 44
3 -rw- 8998
Also, how do I tell if the switch is set as hybrid or native?
If you logging into the switch and found:
console> you are running in hybrid
If you do a show version you will find:
System Configuration register is 0x2102
Hardware Version: 2.0 Model: WS-C6509 Serial #: SCA043500S2
PS1 Module: WS-CAC-1300W Serial #: SON04340836
PS2 Module: WS-CAC-1300W Serial #: SNI05470791
Mod Port Model Serial # Versions
--- ---- ------------------- ----------- --------------------------------------
1 2 WS-X6K-SUP1A-2GE SAD04500AFW Hw : 7.4
Fw : 5.3(2)
Fw1: 5.4(2)
Sw : 7.6(4)
Sw1: 7.6(4)
WS-X6K-SUP1A-2GE SAD04500AFW Hw : 7.4
Sw :
To get to the RP you need to issue the command:
console>(enable)session 15
This will log you into the RP and to go back to SP type exit
Router#exit
The switch changes from SP to RP during bootup. How do I switch to the SP? Assume there is no configuration setup (IP, etc...)
Please look for:
https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-5114
How do I reset the 6504 to default settings if I need to?
6500#write era
6500#delete const_nvram:vlan.dat
6500#reload
System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: n
Proceed with reload? [confirm]y
Password recovery
These are some steps that I followed for password recovery in 6500 and has worked very well
A very important tip is to only press the break key after the RP gains control of the console port.
00:00:03: %OIR-6-CONSOLE: Changing console ownership to route processor
rommon> confreg 0x2142
changing the config0x2102 to 0x2142 causes the router to ignore the existing config. It needs to be ignored the existing
configuration. It needs to be ignored because it has passwords that are not known. Due to Cisco bug ID CSCec36997 :
Password recovery on sup720-native leads to crash on SP. You have about 10 seconds to change the configuration
register to 0x2142.
After these 10 seconds, the SP crashes. If the config register is not changed in time, start again.
You must reset or power cycle for new config to take effect.
rommon> reset
router# enabled
router#copy startup-config running-config
This pulls in your original configuration. Since you are already in privilege
!--- mode, the passwords in this configuration (that are not known) do not affect you.
6500#config te
6500(config)#enable secret ####
issues all the interfaces that you want to bring up
6500(config)#line vty 0 4
We need to restore the config register to its normal state so that it no longer ignores the stored configuration file
6500(config)#config-register 0x2102
6500(config)#do wr
sup720#copy running-config startup-config
Here is a link about the 6500 password recovery procedure.
Haihua
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