View source for Password Recovery Procedure for the Catalyst 6500 with Supervisor 720 (WS-SUP720 / WS-SUP720-3B / WS-SUP720-3BXL) Running Cisco IOS Software Prior to 12.2(17)SX

* Power up the router
* Press '''Break''' on the terminal keyboard right after the RP gains control of the console port. On the Catalyst 6500 that runs Cisco IOS, the SP boots first. It then turns control over to the RP. After the RP gains control, initiate the break sequence. The RP has gained control of the console port when you see this message. (Do not initiate the break sequence until you see this message):
 00:00:03: %OIR-6-CONSOLE: Changing console ownership to route processor
* Break Sequence when connected through Opengear Console Server over SSH: <code>~~b</code>. Caution: On some systems, you have to hit the <code>~</code> key twice to get one character, so in fact you would have to type <code><nowiki>~~~~b</nowiki></code> to actually get <code>~~b</code>. Try first in an unused terminal!
* Type '''confreg 0x2142''' at the '''rommon 1>''' prompt to boot from Flash without loading the configuration.
* The switch crashes with a Software Forced Crash:
* Type '''no''' after each setup question, or press '''Ctrl-C''' to skip the initial setup procedure.
* Type '''enable''' at the '''Router>''' prompt. You are in enable mode. The '''Router#''' prompt is displayed.
* It is important to issue the '''configure memory''' or '''copy start running''' commands to copy the Nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) into memory. '''Do not issue the configure terminal command'''.
* Issue either the '''write terminal''' or '''show running command'''. These commands show the configuration of the router. In this configuration, you see the '''shutdown''' command under all the interfaces. This means that all the interfaces are currently shut down. You see the passwords either in encrypted or unencrypted format.
* Issue the '''configure terminal''' command to enter global configuration mode and make the changes. The prompt is now '''hostname(config)#.'''
* Issue the '''enable secret <  password >''' in global configuration mode to change the '''enable''' password.
* Issue the '''config-register 0x2102'''  command, or the value you recorded in Step 2 in global configuration mode '''(Router(config)#)''' to set the configuration value back to its original value.
* Change any virtual terminal passwords, if present:
 Router(config)'''#line vty 0 4'''
 Router(config-line)'''#password cisco'''
 Router(config-line)'''#^Z'''
 Router#
* Issue the '''no shutdown''' command on every interface that is normally in use. Issue a '''show ip interface brief''' <br/>command to see a list of interfaces and their current status. You must be in enable mode '''(Router#)''' to execute the '''show ip interface brief''' command. Here is an example for one interface:

 Router'''#show ip interface brief'''
 Interface                  IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Prol
 Vlan1                      172.17.10.10    YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 Vlan10                     10.1.1.1        YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 GigabitEthernet1/1         unassigned      YES unset  administratively down dow 
 GigabitEthernet1/2         unassigned      YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 GigabitEthernet2/1         unassigned      YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 GigabitEthernet2/2         unassigned      YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 FastEthernet3/1            172.16.84.110   YES TFTP   administratively down dow 
 
 [snip]
 
 Router'''#configure terminal'''
 Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
 Router(config)'''#interface fastEthernet 3/1'''
 Router(config-if)'''#no shutdown''' 
 Router(config-if)'''#exit'''
 Router(config)# <do other interfaces as necessary...>

* Press '''Ctrl-Z''' to leave the configuration mode. The prompt is now '''hostname#'''.<br/>
* Issue either the '''write memory''' or '''copy running startup''' commands to commit the changes.