How to Reset an Admin Password on a Brocade Switch

This video demonstrates how to recover a forgotten Connectrix B series Admin password.

Welcome to Dell Technologies Connectrix Brocade B-Series - How to Series.

How to reset an Admin password on a Brocade switch. Reference Dell Knowledge Base Article # 008825. This video was created to demonstrate: how to reset an Admin password.

This video presents the following: An admin password can be reset by using the "passwd" command. This command changes the password for a specified user.

In this video, the user is admin. Hence, we use the command, "passwd admin". When to do this: when the user has forgotten the current admin password.

When the user wants to reset the admin password without entering the current admin password. When an admin account or a SecurityAdmin account changes the password for other accounts, it does not prompt for the current password, unless the target account is a root account.

Before you begin: you must have root access to the switch. The "passwd" command cannot be run on the Standby CP in case of Director class switch.

Any chosen password must satisfy the following password strength rules: The password must be between the minimum length and 40 characters long.

The minimum length parameter is set with the "passwdcfg" command. The password contains the minimum required number of lowercase characters.

The password contains the minimum required number of uppercase characters. The password contains the minimum required number of numeric characters.

The password contains the minimum required number of punctuation characters. The password may not contain the colon character. The password must satisfy repeated and sequential character constraints.

Here is the demonstration. Log in to the switch with root account. Execute the command "passwd admin". Enter the new password. Re-type the new password.

Your admin password is successfully reset. Refer to the following important notes: Root Access Removal and Maintenance Account Enhancements.

In FOS v9.0.x, the root account is disabled by default and a new default maintenance account and the role was introduced to enhance the support and troubleshooting functionality.

In FOS v9.1.0, access to the root account is removed and the account cannot be activated (references to root may persist in FOS and should be ignored).

Refer to Brocade Fabric OS v.9.1.0b release notes. Refer to the following for more information: Dell Knowledge Base Article # 008825. docu83446 - Brocade Fabric OS Command reference guide.

Thank you for watching.