A network security administrator must perform a local password recovery procedure on a Cisco IOS router after administrative credentials were lost. Arrange the procedural steps in the correct chronological order required to restore administrative access without losing the active device configuration.
- 1Interrupt the normal boot sequence to enter ROMMON mode and set the configuration register to `0x2142`.
- 2Initialize the router boot process into Cisco IOS and enter privileged EXEC mode without entering a password.
- 3Execute the `copy startup-config running-config` command in privileged EXEC mode.
- 4Configure a new password using `enable secret` in global configuration mode.
- 5Revert the configuration register to `0x2102` and save the memory state using `copy running-config startup-config`.
Answer
The correct chronological sequence for Cisco IOS password recovery is: 1) Interrupt the boot sequence in ROMMON and set the configuration register to `0x2142`. 2) Boot into Cisco IOS and enter privileged EXEC mode without password prompt. 3) Execute `copy startup-config running-config`. 4) Set a new password using `enable secret`. 5) Revert the configuration register to `0x2102` and save changes with `copy running-config startup-config`.
The correct sequence follows standard Cisco IOS administrative recovery: First, interrupt boot in ROMMON to change the register to `0x2142`, ignoring startup configuration. Second, complete boot into privileged EXEC mode without credentials. Third, copy startup configuration into running configuration (`copy startup-config running-config`) to restore network settings into RAM. Fourth, define a new password using `enable secret`. Fifth, reset the register to `0x2102` and save the configuration (`copy running-config startup-config`) to NVRAM.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Cisco IOS Local Password Recovery Procedure and Configuration Register Values