Step-by-Step Procedure Password Recovery for the Catalyst 2900XL, 3500XL, 2950, and 3550 Series Switches

1. Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation (for example, Hyper Terminal) to the console port of the switch. Use the following terminal settings:
   Bits per second (baud): 9600
   Data bits: 8
   Parity: None
   Stop bits: 1
   Flow Control: Xon/Xoff

2. Unplug the power cable.

3. Hold down the mode button located on the left side of the front panel, while reconnecting the power cable to the switch.

   For 2900/3500XL and 3550 Series switches: release the mode button after the LED above Port 1x goes out.

   Note: LED position may vary slightly depending on the model.

   Catalyst 3524XL

   

   For 2950 Series switches: release the mode button after the STAT LED goes out.

   Note: LED position may vary slightly depending on the model.

   Catalyst 2950-24

   

   The following instructions appear:

   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
    load_helper
    boot
   switch:
   
   !--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from a 2900XL, 2950 or 3550 will vary slightly.
   
   

4. Issue the flash_init command.

   switch: flash_init
   Initializing Flash...
   flashfs[0]: 143 files, 4 directories
   flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
   flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 3612672
   flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 2729472
   flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 883200
   flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 86 seconds
   ....done Initializing Flash.
   Boot Sector Filesystem (bs:) installed, fsid: 3
   Parameter Block Filesystem (pb:) installed, fsid: 4
   switch:
   
   !--- This output is from a 2900XL switch. Output from a 3500XL, 3550 or 2950 will vary slightly.
   
   

5. Issue the load_helper command.

   switch: load_helper
   switch:

6. Issue the dir flash: command.

   
   !--- Make sure to type a colon ":" after the dir flash. 
   
   

   The switch file system is displayed:

   switch: dir flash:
   Directory of flash:/
   2    -rwx  1803357                  c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin
   
   !--- This is the current version of software.
   
   4    -rwx  1131                     config.text
   
   !--- This is the configuration file.
   
   5    -rwx  109                      info
   6    -rwx  389                      env_vars
   7    drwx  640                      html
   18   -rwx  109                      info.ver
   403968 bytes available (3208704 bytes used)
   switch:
   
   !--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from a 2900XL, 2950 or 3550 will vary slightly.
   
   

7. Type rename flash:config.text flash:config.old to rename the configuration file.

   switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.old
   switch:
   
   !--- The config.text file contains the password definition.
   
   

8. Issue the boot command to boot the system.

   switch: boot
   Loading "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin"...###############################
   ################################################################################
   ######################################################################
   File "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry po
   int: 0x3000
   executing...
   
   !--- Output truncated.
   !--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from a 2900XL, 2950 or 3550 will vary slightly.
   
   

9. Enter "n" at the prompt to start the Setup program.

   --- System Configuration Dialog ---
   At any point you may enter a question mark '?' for help.
   Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at any prompt.
   Default settings are in square brackets '[]'.
   Continue with configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n
   
   !--- Type "n" for no.
   
   Press RETURN to get started.
   
   !--- press Return or Enter.
   
   Switch>
   
   !--- The Switch> prompt is displayed.
   
   

10. At the switch prompt type en to enter enable mode.

    Switch>en
    Switch#
    

11. Type rename flash:config.old flash:config.text to rename the configuration file with its original name.

    Switch#rename flash:config.old flash:config.text
    Destination filename [config.text]
    
    !--- Press Return or Enter.
    
    Switch#
    

12. Copy the configuration file into memory:

    Switch#copy flash:config.text system:running-config
    Destination filename [running-config]?
    
    !--- Press Return or Enter.
    
    1131 bytes copied in 0.760 secs
    Switch#
    

    The configuration file is now reloaded.

13. Change the password:

    Switch#configure terminal
    Switch(config)#no enable secret 
    
    !--- This step is necessary if the switch had an enable secret password.
    
    Switch(config)#enable password Cisco
    Switch#(config)#^Z
    
    !--- Control/Z.
    
    

14. Write the running configuration to the configuration file with the write memory command:

    Switch#write memory
    Building configuration...
    [OK]
    Switch#

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