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Recover a Root Password

If you forget the root password, you can use the password recovery procedure to reset the root password.

How to Recover the Root Password for Junos OS Evolved

This procedure resets the root password without resetting the device configuration to the factory default configuration. Only the root password is reset. This procedure does not affect the device state or any other function.

How to Connect to the Serial Port

The first task in the password reset operation is to connect to the serial port of the device.

To connect to the serial port:

  1. Power off the router by pressing the power button on the front panel.
  2. Turn off the power to the management device (usually a computer) that you will use to access the CLI.
  3. Plug one end of the Ethernet rollover cable supplied with the router into the RJ-45 to DB-9 serial port adapter supplied with the router.
  4. Plug the RJ-45 to DB-9 serial port adapter into the serial port on the management device.
  5. Connect the other end of the Ethernet rollover cable to the console port on the router.
  6. Turn on the power to the management device.
  7. On the management device, start your asynchronous terminal emulation application (such as Microsoft Windows Hyperterminal), and select the appropriate COM port to use (for example, COM1).
  8. Configure the port settings as follows:

    • Bits per second: 9600

    • Data bits: 8

    • Parity: None

    • Stop bits: 1

    • Flow control: None

  9. Power on the router by pressing the power button on the front panel.

    Verify that the POWER LED on the front panel turns green. The terminal emulation screen on your management device displays the router’s boot sequence.

How to Recover the Root Password

The password reset operation is triggered early in the boot process. You reset the password in the shell.

To recover the root password:

  1. Do a hard reboot of the Routing Engine (that is, shut down the OS, power off the device, and then power on the device).

    On the terminal, you will see the following screen:

  2. Use the arrow keys to scroll down to the Primary [Recover password] option, and press Enter.
  3. Enter the new password, and then retype the new password and press Enter.

    The reboot proceeds until the login prompt appears.

  4. At the prompt, log in as root using new password.

    You will see a shell prompt.

  5. To start the CLI, enter cli.