6-3
Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-11194-03
Chapter 6 Administering the Switch
Protecting Access to Privileged EXEC Commands
Default Password and Privilege Level Configuration
Table 6-1
shows the default password and privilege level configuration.
Setting or Changing a Static Enable Password
The enable password controls access to the privileged EXEC mode. Beginning in privileged EXEC
mode, follow these steps to set or change a static enable password:
To remove the password, use the no enable password global configuration command.
Table 6-1
Default Password and Privilege Levels
Feature
Default Setting
Enable password and privilege level
No password is defined. The default is level 15 (privileged EXEC level).
The password is not encrypted in the configuration file.
Enable secret password and privilege level
No password is defined. The default is level 15 (privileged EXEC level).
The password is encrypted before it is written to the configuration file.
Line password
No password is defined.
Command
Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal
Enter global configuration mode.
Step 2
enable password password
Define a new password or change an existing password for access to
privileged EXEC mode.
By default, no password is defined.
For password, specify a string from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters. The
string cannot start with a number, is case sensitive, and allows spaces but
ignores leading spaces. It can contain the question mark (?) character if
you precede the question mark with the key combination Crtl-v when you
create the password; for example, to create the password abc?123, do this:
Enter abc.
Enter Crtl-v.
Enter ?123.
When the system prompts you to enter the enable password, you need not
precede the question mark with the Ctrl-v; you can simply enter abc?123
at the password prompt.
Step 3
end
Return to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 4
show running-config
Verify your entries.
Step 5
copy running-config startup-config
(Optional) Save your entries in the configuration file.
The enable password is not encrypted and can be read in the switch
configuration file.
