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Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Software Configuration Guide—Release 8.7
OL-8978-04
Chapter 39 Configuring the Switch Access Using AAA
Configuring Authentication on the Switch
Note
You must have either RADIUS or authentication enabled before you disable local
authentication.
This example shows how to disable local login authentication, enable authentication for both console
and Telnet connections, and verify the configuration:
Console> (enable)
set authentication login local disable
local login authentication set to disable for console and telnet session.
Console> (enable)
set authentication enable local disable
local enable authentication set to disable for console and telnet session.
Console> (enable)
show authentication
Login Authentication: Console Session Telnet Session
--------------------- ---------------- ----------------
tacacs disabled disabled
radius enabled(primary) enabled(primary)
kerberos
disabled disabled
local disabled disabled
Enable Authentication: Console Session Telnet Session
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------
tacacs disabled disabled
radius enabled(primary) enabled(primary)
kerberos
disabled disabled
local disabled disabled
Console> (enable)
Recovering a Lost Password
Use the following procedure to recover a lost local authentication password. You must complete Steps 3
through 7 within 30 seconds of a power cycle or the recovery will fail. If you lost both the login and
enable passwords, repeat the process for each password.
To recover a lost password, perform these steps in privileged mode:
Step 1
Connect to the switch through the supervisor engine console port. You cannot recover the password if
you are connected through a Telnet connection.
Step 2
Enter the
reset system
command to reboot the switch.
Step 3
At the “Enter Password” prompt, press
Return
. The login password is null for 30 seconds when you are
connected to the console port.
Step 4
Enter privileged mode using the
enable
command.
Step 5
At the “Enter Password” prompt, press
Return
. (The enable password is null for 30 seconds when you
are connected to the console port.)
Step 6
Enter the
set password
or
set enablepass
command, as appropriate.
Step 7
When prompted for your old password, press
Return
.
Step 8
Enter and confirm your new password.