Nexus Dashboard/MSO Root Password Recover/Factory Default

[Network20]

Currently we're install a cluster of servers for the MSO/Nexus Dashboard in our Data Center. During the initial configuration. The Root password was changed during the install setup. Once it came time to log into the system with the Admin/root credentials. The system was/is no longer accessible. 

CIMC user/password had no problem logging in which used the same password. I do not have physical access to the servers as they are now across the country. I have had Cisco TAC helping with this but have got no where as the simple steps outlined here have not worked. 

https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/344231/completely-restore-centos-7-as-it-was-on-first-installation-factory-reset

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nd/2x/user-guide-22/cisco-nexus-dashboard-user-guide-221/troubleshooting.html#_re_imaging_nodes

https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/system_administrators_guide/ch-working_with_the_grub_2_boot_loader#proc-Resetting_the_Root_Password_Using_rd_break

It looks like I will need to install the yum passwd file as its missing from the directory which will require psychical access to the server with a usb.

I have been editing the GRUB menu to get into the system. But every turn I hit a dead end and cisco TAC keeps throwing random links that are not helpful.

We're running on Cisco M3 servers

Dashboard 2.2.X

CentOS 7

This was brand new pulled out of the box, configured and then locked out 15 minutes later.

[jiarchen]

HI, 

Not for sure whether the problem has been solved or not, please try method below. 

GRUB menu, select option 'e' to edit

scroll down to line number 14 or 15. It start with word 'linux 16'

change word 'ro' with 'rw init=/sysroot/bin/sh' and then press 'CTRL + x'

Then follow bellow steps.

- Access system with below command 

 

- Reset root password

-update selinux information

-exit chroot

- reboot

Password reset completed. 

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[Network20]

Just want to update everyone. The above method only works if you have the yum passwd file installed on the server. These were brand new straight from Cisco. So not sure why that wasn’t included. To top it off, the Rescue-user requires you have the admin password to do the command acs reboot factory-reset. 

in the end after 3 months of troubleshooting with TAC. They RMA’d the server for us. Lucky this was a brand new build out. Within a couple of hours, we got the entire cluster built out and upgraded to the latest 9.2.3.2d from 9.2.1.2d.

[nkhawaja1]

trying this procedure but grub is not coming up, it is so quick that it boots to the OS. tried the boot menu F6, but that requires password. Any idea