Cisco VCS root Password Reset/Recovery

This is based on X7.2 software, assuming your software is older but should be the same.

To collect logs or other information when there are network problems or other issue preventing access to the Cisco VCS/Conductor remotely, a serial console may be used. Connection should be made to the data port on the front of the appliance.

The settings below should be used for the console connection:

Setting Value

Baud rate 115200 bits per second

Data bits 8

Parity None

Stop bits 1

Flow control None

Resetting forgotten passwords

You can reset any account password by logging in to the VCS as the default admin account or as any other administrator account that has read-write access. If this is not possible you can reset the admin or root password via a serial connection.

Resetting your root or admin password via a serial connection

If you have forgotten the password for either the admin account or the root account, you can reset it using the following procedure:

1. Connect a PC to the VCS using the serial cable as per the instructions in VCS Getting Started Guide.

Front Serial port / console access is always enabled for one minute following a restart, even if it is normally disabled.

2. Restart the VCS.

3. Log in from the PC with the username pwrec. No password is required.

4. If the administrator account authentication source is set to Remote, you are given the option to change the

setting to Both; this will allow local administrator accounts to access the system.

5. Select the account (root or admin) whose password you want to change.

6. You will be prompted for a new password.

The pwrec account is only active for one minute following a restart. After that time you will have to restart the system again to change the password.

 The process is actually very simple, but requires console access.  Here is the procedure taken straight out of the VCS Admin guide.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/telepresence/infrastructure/vcs/admin_guide/Cisco_VCS_Administrator_Guide_X7-1.pdf