Password Recovery and Restoration of Default Settings for Cisco Aironet Equipment

Contents

Introduction
Access Point
     Connecting to the AP
     Resetting the Access Point - Versions before 11.07
     Resetting the Access Point - Versions 11.07 and Newer
Base Station
     Setting Defaults with the Reset Button
Client Adapters
     SSID
     Setting Defaults
     CEM Password
     WEP Keys
Cisco Aironet 350 Series Bridge
     For Software Versions 11.xx and Later
Cisco Aironet 340 Series Bridge
     For Software Versions 8.65 and Later
     For Software Versions Earlier than 8.65
Workgroup Bridge
     Returning the Workgroup Bridge to the Default Configuration (Defaults/Reset)

Introduction

When using Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN (WLAN) equipment, it may become necessary to perform a password recovery or to restore the default settings on the equipment.

Note: Unlike other Cisco platforms, the Cisco Aironet hardware and software do not necessarily allow password recovery. Rather, you must in some instances return the equipment to its default state, from which it can be reconfigured.

This document presents the proper methods for performing these procedures as appropriate for various WLAN components.

Access Point

The procedure to reset the Access Point (AP) configuration changed beginning in version 11.07. In all versions of the AP software, you must first connect to the AP to perform the recovery and then perform the steps to reset the unit.

Connecting to the AP

To connect to the Access Point, follow the steps below:

  1. Use a straight-through cable with 9-pin-male to 9-pin-female connectors to connect the COM 1 or COM 2 port on your computer to the RS-232 port on the AP.

  2. Open a terminal-emulation program on your computer.

    Note: These instructions describe Microsoft HyperTeminal; other programs are similar.

  3. In the Connection Description window, enter a name and select an icon for the connection and click OK.

  4. In the Connect To window, use the Connect using pull-down menu to select the port to which the cable is connected, then click OK.

  5. In the Port Settings window, make the following settings:

    • Bits per second (baud): 9600

    • Data bits: 8

    • Parity: None

    • Stop bits: 1

    • Flow Control: Xon/Xoff

  6. Click OK.

  7. Press Enter.

Resetting the Access Point - Versions before 11.07

If you forget the password that allows you to configure the AP, you must reset it to the factory default settings. Follow the steps below to reset the AP configuration and assign a new password.

Note: The following steps do not recover an existing password; they delete the current configuration and return AP settings to the factory defaults while preserving the Installation Key, without which the AP will not function.

Determining the Boot-Block Version

The steps you follow to reset the AP depend on the version of the AP's boot block. Follow the steps below to find out which boot-block version is on your AP, then use the corresponding instructions for versions 1.01 and earlier or versions 1.02 or later.

When you connect to the AP and the Summary Status screen appears, reboot the AP by pressing CTRL-X or by unplugging and then replugging the power connector.

As the AP reboots, introductory system information appears. The boot-block version appears in the third line of this text and is labeled Bootstrap Ver. If your AP's boot-block version is 1.01, your introductory text might look like this: 

System ID: 00409625854D
Motherboard: MPC860 50MHz, 2048KB FLASH, 16384KB DRAM, Revision 20 
Bootstrap Ver. 1.01: FLASH, CRC 4143E410 (OK) 
Initialization: OK

Resetting for Boot-Block Versions 1.01 or Earlier

Follow these steps to reset your AP if the boot-block version on your AP is version 1.01 or earlier.

  1. Having connected to the AP, click OK and press Enter.

  2. When the Summary Status screen appears, reboot the AP by unplugging and then replugging the power connector, or by pressing CTRL-X.

  3. When the following message appears, press ESC: 

    Type <esc> within 5 seconds for menu

  4. Copy the AP's installation key to the AP's DRAM by performing the following steps:

    1. Press C to select Copy file.

    2. Press 1 to select DRAM.

    3. Press the selection letter for AP Installation Key.

    Note: If the list of configuration files contains the file, VAR Installation Key, you must copy that file to DRAM along with the installation key. Copy the VAR installation key to DRAM by pressing C to select Copy file, then 1 to select DRAM, and then the selection letter for VAR Installation Key.

  5. Reformat the AP's configuration memory bank as follows:

    1. Press ! (SHIFT-1) to select FORMAT memory bank.

    2. Press 2 to select Config.

    3. Press upper-case Y (SHIFT-Y) to confirm the FORMAT command.

  6. Copy the installation key back to the configuration memory bank as follows:

    1. Press C to select Copy file

    2. Press 2 to select Config.

    3. Press the selection letter for AP Installation Key.

  7. Run the AP firmware by pressing R to select Run and then selecting the letter for the firmware file that is displayed. The following message appears while the AP starts the firmware: 

    Inflating <firmware file name>

  8. When the Express Setup screen appears, begin reconfiguring the AP using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser.

Resetting for Boot-Block Versions 1.02 or Later

Follow these steps to reset your AP if the boot-block version on your AP is version 1.02 or later.

  1. Having connected to the AP, click OK and press Enter.

  2. When the Summary Status screen appears, reboot the AP by pressing CTRL-X or by unplugging and then replugging the power connector.

  3. When the memory files are listed under the heading Memory:File, press CTRL-W within five seconds to reach the boot-block menu.

  4. Copy the AP's installation key to the AP's DRAM by performing the following steps:

    1. Press C to select Copy file.

    2. Press 1 to select DRAM.

    3. Press the selection letter for AP Installation Key.

    Note: If the list of configuration files contains the file, VAR Installation Key, you must copy that file to DRAM along with the installation key. Copy the VAR installation key to DRAM by pressing C to select Copy file, then 1 to select DRAM, and then the selection letter for VAR Installation Key.

  5. Reformat the AP's configuration memory bank by pressing CTRL-Z to reach the reformat menu.

    1. Press ! (SHIFT-1) to select FORMAT memory bank.

    2. Press 2 to select Config.

    3. Press upper-case Y (SHIFT-Y) to confirm the FORMAT command.

  6. Copy the installation key back to the configuration memory bank as follows:

    1. Press C to select Copy file

    2. Press 2 to select Config.

    3. Press the selection letter for AP Installation Key.

  7. Run the AP firmware by pressing R to select Run and then selecting the letter for the firmware file that is displayed. The following message appears while the AP starts the firmware: 

    Inflating <firmware file name>.

  8. When the Express Setup screen appears, begin reconfiguring the AP using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser.

Resetting the Access Point - Versions 11.07 and Newer

To reset the AP on version 11.07 and newer, follow these instructions:

  1. When the Summary Status screen appears after you have connected to the AP, reboot the AP by unplugging and then replugging the power connector.

  2. When the AP reboots and the Summary Status screen reappears, type :resetall, and press Enter.

  3. Type yes, and press Enter to confirm the command.

    Note: The :resetall command is valid for only 2 minutes immediately after the AP reboots. If you do not enter and confirm the :resetall command during that 2 minutes, reboot the AP again.

  4. After the AP reboots and the Express Setup screen appears, reconfigure the AP by using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser.

Base Station

Setting Defaults with the Reset Button

The Reset button is in a small hole on the back panel of the base station and is used to reset the base station parameters to the default values.

pwrec1.gif

To activate the Reset button, insert a straightened paper clip into the small hole and press. Remove the paper clip. The Status LED blinks amber to show the base station has the following default parameter values. 

 Radio Network Name -- tsunami 
 WEP Encryption Key -- 3031323334353637383930313233 
 Network Type -- Infrastructure 
 Data Rate -- Auto 
 Encryption -- Enabled 
 Authentication Type -- Open 
 Encryption -- 128-bit Encryption 
 Association -- Mixed Cells Allowed

Client Adapters

Even though there is no password for the client adapter, there are other parameters that can be important for proper operation, including the Service Set Identifier (SSID), the Client Encryption Manager (CEM) password, and the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) keys. If it becomes necessary to reset these parameters, follow the procedures below.

SSID

The SSID can be reset in the same manner as it was originally set. Using the Aironet Client Utility (ACU), follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Commands menu.

  2. Select Edit Properties.

  3. Under the System Parameters tab, type the correct value(s) for the SSID. Check with your network administrator to get the correct SSID.

  4. Click OK to save your configuration changes.

    pwrec2.gif

Setting Defaults

To set the client adapter to its defaults, select the System parameter tab and on the bottom right corner of the panel, click the Defaults button.

CEM Password

A password is required to run CEM to permit addition or modification of WEP keys. If this password is lost or forgotten, try the default password Cisco. On older versions of CEM, try the default password Aironet. If the default passwords do not work, you must reinstall the CEM utility.

WEP Keys

When first configured, WEP keys are written to nonvolatile RAM on the client adapter card. The keys cannot be viewed or erased, but they can be overwritten with new keys.

If you need to reenter the WEP keys, contact your network administrator for the correct keys to use to connect to the wireless network.

Cisco Aironet 350 Series Bridge

For Software Versions 11.xx and Later

If you forget the password that allows you to configure the 350 Bridge through the console port, you must completely reset the configuration. Follow these steps to delete the current configuration and return all settings to the factory defaults:

  1. Use a straight-through cable with 9-pin male to 9-pin female connectors to connect the COM 1 or COM 2 port on your computer to the RS232 port on the bridge or AP. You can select the Reset option only through the console port.

  2. Open a terminal-emulation program on your computer.

    Note: These instructions describe HyperTeminal; other programs are similar.

  3. In the Connection Description window, enter a name and select an icon for the connection and click OK.

  4. In the Connect To window, select the port to which the cable is connected and click OK.

  5. In the Port Settings window, enter the following settings:

    • 9600 baud

    • 8 data bits

    • No parity

    • 1 stop bit, and

    • Xon/Xoff flow control

  6. Click OK and press Enter.

  7. When the Main Menu screen appears, reboot the bridge or AP by turning the unit off and then turning it back on.

  8. When the bridge reboots and the Summary Status screen reappears, type :resetall, and press Enter.

  9. Type yes, and press Enter to confirm the command.

  10. After the bridge reboots and the Express Setup screen appears, reconfigure the bridge by using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser

Note: The resetall command is valid for only two minutes immediately after the AP reboots. If you do not enter and confirm the resetall command during that two minutes, reboot the bridge again.

pwrec4.gif

Cisco Aironet 340 Series Bridge

For Software Versions 8.65 and Later

If you forget the password that allows you to configure the 340 Bridge through the console port, you must completely reset the configuration. Follow these steps to delete the current configuration and return all settings to the factory defaults:

  1. Use a straight-through cable with 9-pin male to 9-pin female connectors to connect the COM 1 or COM 2 port on your computer to the RS232 port on the bridge or AP. You can select the Reset option only through the console port.

  2. Open a terminal-emulation program on your computer.

    Note: These instructions describe HyperTeminal; other programs are similar.

  3. In the Connection Description window, enter a name and select an icon for the connection and click OK.

  4. In the Connect To window, select the port to which the cable is connected and click OK.

  5. In the Port Settings window, enter the following settings:

    • 9600 baud

    • 8 data bits

    • No parity

    • 1 stop bit, and

    • Xon/Xoff flow control

  6. Click OK and press Enter.

  7. When the Main Menu screen appears, reboot the bridge or AP by turning the unit off and then turning it back on.

  8. When the bridge or AP reboots and the Main Menu screen reappears, type 2 to select Reset and press Enter.

  9. Type yes and press Enter to confirm the command.

    Note: The Reset command is valid for only two minutes immediately after the bridge or AP reboots. If you do not enter and confirm the Reset command during that two minutes, reboot the bridge or AP again.

  10. After the bridge or AP reboots, reconfigure it by using the terminal emulator or an Internet browser.

For Software Versions Earlier than 8.65

If the passwords for the Cisco Aironet 340 series Ethernet Bridge are lost, the unit must be returned to Cisco Systems for servicing. Please contact Cisco VISE.

Workgroup Bridge

The Cisco Aironet Workgroup Bridge (WGB) allows as many as eight hosts on an isolated wired LAN segment to share a single wireless connection to an AP in order to access other portions of the network.

Returning the Workgroup Bridge to the Default Configuration (Defaults/Reset)

Use the Reset button, a small hole on the back panel of the base station, to reset the base station parameters to the default values.

pwrec3.gif


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