Configure a password on a Cisco Switch

Step 1:

  • Type the below commands
    enable, enter
    Configure terminal, enter
    enable Password     (Password is cisco) enter,
    Logout, enter.
    Remember to save your configurations either by typing the command do wr or by typing copy running-config startup-config at the privilege exec level
  • This is in plain text and is not very secure (It can be seen by running the Show running-config cmd)
  • Logout

Step 2:

  • Type as below
    Enable, enter
    Password: Cisco, enter

Step 3:

  • Cisco's resolution to the problem of plain text passwords was to use one-way md5 authentication
  • Enable secret takes precedence over plain text passwords so you can have both, however one will overide the other
  • Type the Below::
    enable, enter
    configure terminal,     enter
    enable secret cisc    o    , enter

Step 4:

  • Let's test to see if this is encrypted
  • By Running the Show running-config command we can see it's encrypted
  • Type the below:
    enable, enter
    show running-config,     enter