Documentation forEngineer's Toolset

Reset or enable passwords using SNMP

The SolarWinds Config Uploader can reset any login or enable a password on a Cisco router or switch. You do not need to know the password, just the SNMP read and write community string of the router or switch.

  1. Create a text file with a single line containing the new password and copy it to the TFTP Server root directory. This text file provides a set of configuration commands you want to merge with the running configuration. This is a simple text file. You may give it any file name you choose.

    The following example text resets the enable password to New*Password.enable password New*Password. This will change the Enable Password even if it has been set using the type 5 "secret" method.

    To reset the login passwords for the vty (telnet) terminals, use the following example text: line vty 0 4password New*Passwordlogin

  2. Start the TFTP Server on your machine.
  3. The text file must be in the root directory of the TFTP Server.
  4. Enter the device address, community string, and the TFTP server IP address into the Config Uploader and click Copy Config from PC to Router or Switch.

    In this example, Config Uploader did not write to non-volatile memory. If you restart or reboot the router, the enable secret password resets back to the previous password, prior to the changes. Write the changes to non-volatile memory, if you want to ensure the router retains the new password after a restart.