DETAILED STEPS
Purpose
Command or Action
Enables privileged EXEC mode. Enter your password if prompted.
enable
Step 1
Example:
Switch>
enable
Enters the global configuration mode.
configure terminal
Example:
Switch#
configure terminal
Step 2
Use one of the following:
Step 3
•
Defines a new password or changes an existing password for
access to privileged EXEC mode.
•
enable password
[
level level
]
{
password
|
encryption-type
encrypted-password
}
•
Defines a secret password, which is saved using a nonreversible
encryption method.
◦
(Optional) For
level
, the range is from 0 to 15. Level 1 is
normal user EXEC mode privileges. The default level is 15
(privileged EXEC mode privileges).
•
enable secret
[
level level
]
{
password
|
encryption-type
encrypted-password
}
◦
For
password
, specify a string from 1 to 25 alphanumeric
characters. The string cannot start with a number, is case
Example:
Switch(config)#
enable password
example102
sensitive, and allows spaces but ignores leading spaces. By
default, no password is defined.
◦
(Optional) For
encryption-type
, only type 5, a Cisco
proprietary encryption algorithm, is available. If you specify
or
Switch(config)#
enable secret level 1
password secret123sample
an encryption type, you must provide an encrypted
password
—
an encrypted password that you copy from
another switch configuration.
If you specify an encryption type and then enter a clear
text password, you can not re-enter privileged EXEC
mode. You cannot recover a lost encrypted password by
any method.
Note
(Optional) Encrypts the password when the password is defined or when
the configuration is written.
service password-encryption
Example:
Switch(config)#
service
Step 4
Encryption prevents the password from being readable in the
configuration file.
password-encryption
Catalyst 2960-X Switch Security Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.0(2)EX
OL-29048-01
25
Controlling Switch Access with Passwords and Privilege Levels
Protecting Enable and Enable Secret Passwords with Encryption