White Papers

Viewing the Configuration Lock Status
If you attempt to enter CONFIGURATION mode when another user has locked it, you may view which user has control of
CONFIGURATION mode using the show configuration lock command from EXEC Privilege mode.
You can then send any user a message using the send command from EXEC Privilege mode. Alternatively, you can clear any line
using the clear command from EXEC Privilege mode. If you clear a console session, the user is returned to EXEC mode.
Example of Locking CONFIGURATION Mode
Dell (conf)#configuration mode exclusive auto
Dell (conf)#exit
Feb 5 11:55:41: %STKUNIT0-M:CP %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console
Dell #config
! Locks configuration mode exclusively.
Dell (conf)#
If another user attempts to enter CONFIGURATION mode while a lock is in place, the following appears on their terminal
(message 1): % Error: User "" on line console0 is in exclusive configuration mode.
If any user is already in CONFIGURATION mode when while a lock is in place, the following appears on their terminal
(message 2): % Error: Can't lock configuration mode exclusively since the following users are
currently configuring the system: User "admin" on line vty1 ( 10.1.1.1 ).
NOTE: The CONFIGURATION mode lock corresponds to a VTY session, not a user. Therefore, if you configure a lock
and then exit CONFIGURATION mode, and another user enters CONFIGURATION mode, when you attempt to re-enter
CONFIGURATION mode, you are denied access even though you are the one that configured the lock.
NOTE: If your session times out and you return to EXEC mode, the CONFIGURATION mode lock is unconfigured.
View the Configuration Lock Status
If you attempt to enter CONFIGURATION mode when another user has locked it, you may view which user has control of
CONFIGURATION mode using the show configuration lock command from EXEC Privilege mode.
You can then send any user a message using the send command from EXEC Privilege mode. Alternatively, you can clear any line
using the clear command from EXEC Privilege mode. If you clear a console session, the user is returned to EXEC mode.
Recovering from a Forgotten Password
If you configure authentication for the console and you exit out of EXEC mode or your console session times out, you are
prompted for a password to re-enter.
Use the following commands if you forget your password.
1. Log onto the system using the console.
2. Power-cycle the chassis by switching off all of the power modules and then switching them back on.
3. Hit any key to abort the boot process. You enter uBoot immediately, as indicated by the => prompt.
(during bootup)
hit any key
4. Set the system parameters to ignore the startup configuration file when the system reloads.
BOOT USER mode
ignore startup-config
5. Recovering from a Forgotten Password
BOOT USER mode
reload
6. Copy startup-config.bak to the running config.
EXEC Privilege mode
Switch Management
77