Guide to Reset Password on Cisco Router - Computers - Networks

Cisco routers are designed for large networks that are more complex and secure than a typical home network. A Cisco router runs from a command line interface and requires a computer with a terminal application to configure it. There are several passwords on a Cisco router that allow several users to make minor configuration changes without having full administrative access. You can recover these passwords if you can physically access the router.

Things You'll Need Terminal application Console cable

Guide to Reset Password on Cisco Router1. Power off the router and plug your computer with the terminal application into the console port of the router using the console cable. The console port is a trapezoid-shaped port on the back of the router with space to screw in pins on either side. Turn each pin on both sides of the connector into the router and into your computer to secure the connection.

2. Flip the power switch on the router to the "ON" position and launch your terminal application.

3. Enter "show version" into the command line in the terminal. Scroll through the output until you reach the line that tells you about the configuration register. It normally reads "Configuration register is 0x2102," but if your output says something else, write it down. Switch the router off, then on again using the power switch.

4. Press the "Pause Break" key on your keyboard within 60 seconds of turning the router on. When you see the first prompt, enter "confreg 0x2142" in the terminal. If your configuration register was something else, enter that information instead of "0x2142." Type "reset" to reboot the router and ignore the saved information, allowing you to change the passwords.

5. Hold down the Ctrl key and press C to skip setting up the router. When you reach the first prompt that says "Router," type "enable" and press the Enter key. Type in "configure memory" and press Enter. Allow the process to finish. When you receive a prompt again, type in "show running-config." This allows you to see the unencrypted passwords.

6. Type in "configure terminal" and press Enter.

7. Change your passwords. There are several passwords that you can change for the router. To reset a console password, enter the following series of commands:line con 0loginpassword bobSubstitute "bob" with your password. To change the telnet password allowing you to log-in to the router remotely, enter the following commands:line vty 0 4loginpassword bobSubstitute "bob" with the password you want to use. To set the "enable" password, type "enable password bob" substituting "bob" with your password. To change the secret password, enter "enable secret bob" substituting "bob" with your password.

8. Hold down the Ctrl key and tap the Z to exit Configuration Mode. Type in "write memory" to save your changes.

access point vs router