To use the password-recovery procedure, a user with physical access to the switch restarts the switch and then enters the break key to interrupt the bootup sequence.

Note The break key character is different for each operating system.

On a SUN work station running UNIX, Ctrl-C is the break key.

On a PC running Hyperterminal on Windows XP or 2000, Ctrl-Break is the break key.

Cisco TAC has tabulated break keys for most common operating systems and an alternative break key sequence for those terminal emulators that do not support the break keys. See /en/US/products/hw/routers/ps133/products_tech_note09186a0080174a34.shtml#how-to for that list.

For instructions on how to use the break key to enter the bootloader mode, see the software configuration guide for this release.

If the password-recovery mechanism is disabled, this message appears:

The password-recovery mechanism has been triggered, but

is currently disabled. Access to the boot loader prompt

through the password-recovery mechanism is disallowed at

this point. However, if you agree to let the system be

reset back to the default system configuration, access

to the boot loader prompt can still be allowed.

Would you like to reset the system back to the default configuration (y/n)?

If the user chooses not to reset the system to the default configuration, the normal bootup process continues, as if the break key had not been entered. If you choose to reset the system to the default configuration, the configuration file in flash memory is deleted, and the VLAN database file, flash:vlan.dat (if present), is deleted.

If the password-recovery mechanism is enabled, this message appears:

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the flash file system. The following

commands will initialize the flash file system, and finish loading the operating system

software#

flash_init

load_helper

boot