Linksys Switch Password Recovery Procedure Originally authored by Jesse Molina, <jesse@opendreams.

net> Revision History 20060616, v1, Original document -At this time, this password recovery procedure is not made publicly available by Linksys. Furthermore, when I needed to password recover one of these switches for the first time, I was given wrong information from Linksys. As such, I'm do cumenting this procedure here for reference. In fact, this may be the first tim e this procedure has been documented. Follow these steps to password recover the applicable Linksys switches. Physical access of the switch is required, in order to connect the serial cable. This procedure applies to Linksys models SRW2016, SRW2024, SRW2048, SRW224G4, SR W248G4, and possibly other switches. -1.) Connect the Linksys serial cable that came with the switch between the switc h serial port and a nearby computer serial port. For Windows, use Hyper Termina l or VanDyke CRT/SecureCRT. For Linux, use minicom. For other unix types, try cu/tip. 2.) The switch default serial port configuration is set to 38400 baud, 8 data bi ts, no parity, 1 stop bit, no flow control. 3.) Confirm that you have a valid serial connection by pressing enter a few time s. You should be prompted with a login screen. 4.) If you have successfully established serial communication with the switch, r eboot the switch by disconnecting and then reconnecting it's power cable. 5.) The switch will begin it's POST procedure as displayed in the serial termina l emulator. Be ready at the keyboard to press the Esc key. 6.) Watch for the following line to appear during the boot sequence. When you s ee it, immediately press the Esc key; "Autoboot in 2 seconds - press RETURN or Esc. to abort and enter prom." IMPORTANT: Do not hold down the Esc or Enter/Return key during the boot sequence . Only press the Esc key when prompted. 7.) If you successfully interrupted the boot sequence, you will be prompted with a Startup Menu. Option number 3 will be the "Password Recovery Procedure". Se lect this option. 8.) The terminal will display, "Current password will be ignored!". Press enter to continue with the boot sequence. 9.) The default account "admin/<blank>" will be enabled and you can log into the switch using this account. From here, you can set new accounts without having lost the switch configuration. 10.) After you have configured new accounts and documented the passwords, reboot

the switch and log in normally to confirm that passwords have been recovered su ccessfully. 11.) You are done. Disconnect and store the serial cable in a safe place for fu ture use. Be sure to document a login username and password somewhere safe for future reference.