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Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-9639-06
Chapter 7 Configuring Switch-Based Authentication
Protecting Access to Privileged EXEC Commands
This example shows how to configure the encrypted password $1$FaD0$Xyti5Rkls3LoyxzS8 for
privilege level 2:
Switch(config)# enable secret level 2 5 $1$FaD0$Xyti5Rkls3LoyxzS8
Disabling Password Recovery
By default, any end user with physical access to the switch can recover from a lost password by
interrupting the boot process while the switch is powering on and then by entering a new password.
The password-recovery disable feature protects access to the switch password by disabling part of this
functionality. When this feature is enabled, the end user can interrupt the boot process only by agreeing
to set the system back to the default configuration. With password recovery disabled, you can still
interrupt the boot process and change the password, but the configuration file (config.text) and the
VLAN database file (vlan.dat) are deleted.
Note If you disable password recovery, we recommend that you keep a backup copy of the configuration file
on a secure server in case the end user interrupts the boot process and sets the system back to default
values. Do not keep a backup copy of the configuration file on the switch. We recommend that you also
keep a backup copy of the VLAN database file on a secure server. When the switch is returned to the
default system configuration, you can download the saved files to the switch by using the XMODEM
protocol. For more information, see the
“Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password” section on
page 42-3.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to disable password recovery:
To re-enable password recovery, use the service password-recovery global configuration command.
Note Disabling password recovery will not work if you have set the switch to boot manually by using the boot
manual global configuration command. This command produces the boot loader prompt (switch:) after
the switch is power cycled.
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
no service password-recovery Disable password recovery.
This setting is saved in an area of the flash memory that is accessible by
the boot loader and the Cisco IOS image, but it is not part of the file
system and is not accessible by any user.
Step 3
end Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 4
show version Verify the configuration by checking the last few lines of the command
output.