SAN switch password reset/ recovery using a second switch.

[Geoff Brown]

We have an AA978A 2/16V SAN switch, for which we have lost the admin password.
We have heard that this can be recovered/ reset using another switch with a known password.
Has anyone heard of this before, & if so, could you supply details of the procedure?
Thanks
Geoff

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi Geoff,

Firstly I take it you've tried logging in as root rather than admin...

I'm not sure about resetting with another switch, but there is a special firmware image on the Brocade website http://www.brocadeconnect.com that allows you to reset the password on some SAN switches, including (I think) the 2/16V...

What version of FabricOS are you currently running ? This utility claims to work on v4.1 - whether that means only v4.1 or v4.1 and higher, I'm not sure...

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Rob

[Bill Rothanburg]

You will need to be running Fabric OS 5.2.0 or later on both switches.

From the working switch, issue the 'distribute -p PWD -d ' command, where is the domain id of the switch you want updated. This will replicate the account information from the switch you are logged in on.

If you leave off the -d switch and domain, it will replicate to all of the eligible switches in the fabric.

I don't know if this will work to recover lost/forgotten root or factory passwords.

[MitVongNam]

Is it for real? I did google search and found no hit on this Distribute command. By the way, What type of switch will this command work with? Brocade/Cisco/McData ??
My understanding that if root password is lost then You need to contact switch vendor to have it reset with $$$. Regards;

[Bill Rothanburg]

It's new in Brocade FabricOS 5.2.0. It's documented in the Admin guide.

[Amar_Joshi]

AA978A is HP's 2/16V san switch (Brocade OEM).
I can suggest you that you Log in as root or any other admin account and run the command #passwd admin
this will reset the admin account password. remember most of the time if root password is not changed, it's default "password".