3Com Switch - Lost Password Recovery

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1181703&page=4

Hi, I spent a good few days trying to recover a lost password on one of our 3Com switches, i tried every backdoor i could find but to no avail. I finally found an answer... on the 3Com website.. log into the switch via hyperterminal and a com cable using the username and password "recover", it will then give you 30 seconds to pull the power. Once you stick the power back in and log on to the switch again, it will ask you for a new password.I'm not sure if this will work on all switches or just newer ones, but it's always worth a try.

http://www.directron.com/faq3switches.html

SuperStack 3 Switch 4400/4900/ SS 3 Webcache, Switch 4050/60 - How to recover from a Lost passwordProblem: How to recover from a Lost passwordProblem: Password Recovery ProcedureFact:
SuperStack 3 Switch 4400
SuperStack 3 Switch 4900
SuperStack 3 Switch 4900 12-Port
SuperStack 3 Switch 4900 12-Port 1000BASE-SX
SuperStack 3 Switch 4924
SuperStack 3 Switch 4950
SuperStack 3 Switch 4300
SuperStack 3 Webcache
SuperStack 3 Webcache 1000
SuperStack 3 Webcache 3000
SuperStack 3 Switch 4250T
SuperStack 3 Switch 4226T
Switch 4050
Switch 4060
3C16115
3C16116
Password
Admin passwordProblem: Forgot the password for the "admin" user account and can no longer perform important management operations.Problem: Lost passwordProblem: Lost admin passwordProblem: Cannot login as user "admin"Cause: If you forget your password, for the admin user account, but have other "Security" user accounts set up on your unit, you are able to reset the Admin password. The following Password Recovery allows you to define a new password for the admin account, even though you have forgotten the current one.Fix: Note the following information is on the CD ( Shipped with the product ) in the "Management Interface Reference Guide" under Support > Problem Solving > Solving Command Line Interface Problems. It is the fourth solution in the list. If you have added any additional users with "Security" access level each additional user can modify all passwords on the unit. Should any password become lost, a user with Security access level must log into a unit via the Command Line Interface and change the password of the user account in question. Use the "security > device > user > modify" command to do this. NOTE: You can modify user details for the entire stack using the modify command on the User menu. NOTE: A user's access level cannot be modified To modify user 'admin' details for the stack: 1. Login to the unit as 'security' or admin equivalent user. From the Top-level menu, enter: security device user modify. The following prompt is displayed: Enter the user name 2. Enter the name of the user 'admin'. The following prompt is displayed: Enter the password: 3. Enter a new password for the user. The following prompt is displayed: Re-enter the password: 4. Enter the password for the user again. The following prompt is displayed: Enter the community string [ ]: 5. Enter a community string "private" for the user "admin". 6. Verify the user accounts are correct by entering the command "summary". The table displayed will list all user accounts showing security level and community string. NOTE the passwords are not displayed.Cause: If you forget your password, for the admin user account, and have no other "Security" user accounts set up on your unit, you will no longer be able to perform important security management operations on that unit. The following Password Recovery allows you to define a new password for the admin account, even though you have forgotten the current one.Fix: Should there be no Security level logins (including "Admin") available on the unit, you must use the password recovery method outlined below, to define a new password for the "admin" user account: NOTE: Password recovery can be enabled or disabled at any time through the CLI, by accessing the CLI and using the security > device > user > pwdRecover command. CAUTION: If you disable Password Recovery for a Switch and subsequently forget the password for the "admin" user account, you will have to return the Switch to 3Com. NOTE: If your product has a Redundant Power Supply (RPS) connected, you will need to disconnect it in order to perform a hard reset. NOTE: You cannot use a soft reset operation to reset the password of the "admin" user account. This will end the password recovery procedure and return you to the CLI login prompt. NOTE: Password recovery cannot be performed via a SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) connection. Use the password recovery method outlined below to define a new password for the admin username: 1.Access the Command Line Interface and enter the user name "recover" and password "recover" to place your unit in password recovery mode. The unit will remain in password recovery mode for a maximum of 30 seconds, before it returns to the CLI login prompt. 2. During the 30 seconds, perform a hard reset on the unit while the it is still in password recovery mode by switching it off, waiting a few seconds, and switching it on again. 3. When the unit has rebooted following the hard reset enter a new password for the "admin" user account. 4. Enter enable to leave password recovery enabled, or enter disable to turn it off. You are now logged in as the default "admin" user. NOTE:Password recovery cannot be performed via a SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) connection.SuperStack 3 Switch 4900, Switch 4060 - Does it support Roving Analysis ?Problem: Does it support Roving Analysis ?Fact: SuperStack 3 Switch 4900
Switch 4050
Switch 4060
Roving AnalysisProblem: Unable to find Roving Analysis configuration menus on command line or web interfaceFix: The SuperStack 3 Switch 4900 and Switch 4060 dose NOT support Roving analysis. Note : Roving Analysis allows you to attach a network analyser to an "analysis port" and "monitor port" to monitor network traffic.SuperStack 3 Switch 4400/4900/3300 - How to install software using the "Software Update Utility"Problem: How to install software using the "Software Update Utility"Fact:
SuperStack 3 Switch 4400
SuperStack 3 Switch 4900
SuperStack 3 Switch 4924
SuperStack 3 Switch 4950
SuperStack 3 Switch 3300
SuperStack II Switch 3300
SuperStack II Switch 1100
SuperStack II Switch 610
SuperStack II PS Hub 40
SuperStack II Switch 630
SuperStack II Dual Speed Hub 500
Switch 4050
Switch 4060
3C17203
3C17204
Software Update Utlility
SUUProblem: Unable to install software using Software Update UtilityFix: To install software on your switch using the Software Update Utility, follow the steps below:1. 3Com recommends that you download the latest version of management software for your unit from the 3Com Download Web site 2. After downloading the software for your unit, extract the ".bin" file to a directory on your computer. The ".bin" file contains the management software for your unit. 3. Download the "Software Update Utility", from the following link i.e. Click here 4. After downloading the "Software Update Utility", double click on it and follow the instructions for installing it. 5. After installing the "Software Update Utility", run it and follow the instructionsNote The SUU should only be used if a TFTP upgrade has failed.(Source:3COM)