When using network devices like the Cisco router, it is important to have a password to protect your network. However, forgetting or losing the password to your Cisco router can be a frustrating experience. This can be a major problem when you need to make changes to your network settings, or when you need to troubleshoot any issues. Luckily, there are ways to recover your password on a Cisco router, and this blog will cover some of those methods.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Recover Password on Cisco Router
Passwords are an essential part of securing your network and protecting your sensitive information. In the case of the Cisco router, if you forget or lose your password, you will be unable to access your router’s settings page, which will limit your ability to make changes within the network. Recovering your password is, therefore, a critical step in ensuring that you can maintain and manage your network with ease.
Method 1: Using Password Recovery Mode
One method you can use to recover your password on a Cisco router is through the Password Recovery Mode. This method will erase the router’s configuration and reset the device to its default state, which will remove the current password. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Power off the router by unplugging it from the power source.
2. Connect your PC or laptop to the console port on the router with a terminal application such as PuTTY.
3. While holding the Mode button, power on the router. Continue holding the Mode button until the Status LED light turns amber.
4. Release the Mode button and wait for the LED to turn green.
5. Verify that you’re in the Recovery environment by typing "confreg" at the prompt and pressing Enter. The prompt should display: "Do you wish to change the configuration? y/n".
6. Type "no" and press Enter to bypass changing the configuration.
7. Type "boot" and press Enter to restart the router.
8. After the router is done booting up, type "no" to initial configuration dialogue to go into User EXEC mode.
9. Type "enable" to enter privileged EXEC mode, then type "write memory" and press Enter to save the configuration changes.
Pros: This method is quick and easy to use, as well as being reliable.
Cons: All configurations of the router are lost and have to be reset.
Method 2: Using Cisco Configuration Professional
Another option to recover your password on a Cisco router is through the use of Cisco Configuration Professional. This method requires a bit more technical expertise but is still relatively simple. Here are the steps:
1. Download and install Cisco Configuration Professional onto your PC.
2. Connect your PC to the router using a console cable.
3. Once you’re connected to the router, open Cisco Configuration Professional and select your router model under the Discover Devices option.
4. Once the router is detected, select it and click on the Configure tab.
5. Click on the Security option and select Password Management.
6. Choose the option to recover the password and follow the on-screen instructions.
Pros: This method is less destructive than the previous one, and all configurations will be preserved.
Cons: Cisco Configuration Professional’s installation process may be difficult to complete for non-industry experts.
Method 3: Using ROMMON
ROM Monitor (ROMMON) is a diagnostic tool that you can use to access your device’s flash memory and recover or repair your device. This method requires more technical knowledge than the others, but it is still effective. Here are the steps:
1. Disconnect all cables from the router.
2. Connect your PC or laptop directly to the router with an Ethernet cable.
3. Press and hold the Mode button located on the front of the router.
4. Connect the power cord to the router while still holding the Mode button.
5. Wait until the LED located on the front of the router begins to flash, and then release the Mode button.
6. Once the router has entered ROM Monitor mode, enter the "confreg" command to check the configuration register value.
7. Change the configuration register value to "0x2142" to bypass the startup configuration file. To do this, type "confreg 0x2142," and press Enter.
8. Type "reset" and press Enter to restart the router.
9. Once the router has restarted, enter the initial configuration dialogue with the "no" command.
10. Type "enable" to enter privileged EXEC mode, then type "configure terminal" to enter Global Configuration mode.
11. Type "config-register 0x2102" to ensure that the router reads the saved configuration after a restart, then type "exit" twice to exit out of global configuration mode.
12. Type "copy startup-config running-config" to copy the saved configuration to the router’s running configuration.
Pros: This method preserves all router configurations and is useful to preserve VLANs and access points when used in conjunction with recovered password access.
Cons: Limited support on advanced routers that use programmable CPUs.
What to Do If You Can’t Recover Password on Cisco Router
If you have tried all the methods mentioned above and still can’t recover your password, there are a few things you could try:
1. Contact your network administrator or service provider to obtain the correct credentials.
2. Consider resetting the device to its factory defaults.
3. Do a database search for known default passwords of the router, if one had been set up before.
Bonus Tip
Cisco passwords are case-sensitive and therefore require a particular order of lowercase or uppercase. Please double-check the correct spelling and appropriate letter case before retrying login credentials.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I recover my Cisco router password without a console cable?
A1: Unfortunately, you need a console cable to recover your Cisco router’s password.
Q2: Can I recover my Cisco router password remotely?
A2: You cannot recover a Cisco router’s password remotely through a network. You must be physically present and have access to your router’s console port.
Q3: Can I recover my Cisco router password without losing router configuration?
A3: Yes, with some methods, you can recover the password without losing the router’s configuration. These methods include Cisco Configuration Professional and ROMMON.
Q4: What’s the best method to recover a Cisco router password?
A4: The method that you use to recover a Cisco router password entirely depends on various factors like your technical expertise, level of urgency, specific Cisco router configuration, among others. You may choose whichever works best for you.
Q5: How often should I change my Cisco router password?
A5: It is best to change your password at least once every six months for better network security.
Final Thoughts
Recovering a lost or forgotten Cisco router password is a task that every network administrator should know how to do. As you can see, there are a few methods available, but each has its advantages and limitations. This guide has provided you with a clear overview of the different methods available. With the right steps and precautions in place, you should be able to successfully recover your Cisco router password and secure your network.