Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series, Software Configuration Manual

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Catalyst 4500 Series Switch, Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide - Cisco IOS XE 3.9.xE and IOS 15.2(5)Ex
Chapter 3 Configuring the Switch for the First Time
Controlling Access to Privileged EXEC Commands
Using the enable password and enable secret Commands
To provide an additional layer of security, particularly for passwords that cross the network or that are
stored on a TFTP server, use either the
enable password or enable secret command. Both commands
configure an encrypted password that you must enter to access the enable mode (the default) or any other
privilege level that you specify.
We recommend that you use the enable secret command.
If you configure the enable secret command, it takes precedence over the enable password command;
the two commands cannot be in effect simultaneously.
To configure the switch to require an enable password, enter one of these commands:
When you enter either of these password commands with the level option, you define a password for a
specific privilege level. After you specify the level and set a password, give the password only to users
who need to have access at this level. Use the
privilege level configuration command to specify
commands accessible at various levels.
If you enable the service password-encryption command, the password you enter is encrypted. When
you display the password with the more system:running-config command, the password displays the
password in encrypted form.
If you specify an encryption type, you must provide an encrypted password—an encrypted password you
copy from another switch configuration.
Note
You cannot recover a lost encrypted password. You must clear NVRAM and set a new password. See the
“Recovering a Lost Enable Password” section on page 3-25 for more information.
For information on how to display the password or access level configuration, see the “Displaying the
Password, Access Level, and Privilege Level Configuration” section on page 3-24 .
Setting or Changing a Privileged Password
To set or change a privileged password, enter this command:
Command Purpose
Switch(config)# enable password [ level
level ] { password | encryption-type
encrypted-password }
Establishes a password for the privileged EXEC
mode.
Switch(config)#
enable secret
[
level
level ] { password | encryption-type
encrypted-password }
Specifies a secret password that is saved using a
nonreversible encryption method. (If
enable password and enable secret commands are
both set, users must enter the enable secret
password.)
Command Purpose
Switch(config-line)# password password Sets a new password or changes an existing
password for the privileged level.