Cisco WLC Password recovery

We have used controller 2500 to demonstrate the password recovery procedure. It can be done using two methods.

Method1:

Step1. Take the console access of WLC.

Step2. Hard Reboot the WLC.

Step3. When it asks for username, type Restore-Password at user prompt.

Please note WLC will accept this username only once after the reboot.

Step4. It will ask you username, enter the new username.

Step5. Enter the new password. WLC will store the new username and password in its database and will allow you to enter in WLC using the same.

Step6. When username prompt again appears, enter the new username which you have configured.

Step7. When password prompt appears, enter the new password which you have configured.

 Hopefully your login with new credential will be successful.

Method2:

Step1. Save the configuration.

Cisco Controller) >save config Are you sure you want to save? (y/n) y Configuration Saved! (Cisco Controller) >

Step2. Please make sure that you have reachability between FTP server and WLC.

Step3. Take the backup of configuration. Please refer to document of WLC configuration backup.

Step4. Reboot the WLC.

Step5. Break the boot process.

Step6. Once the boot process is broken, you will get below options:

Please choose an option from below:  1. Run primary image (Version 3.2.116.21) (active)  2. Run backup image  (Version 3.2.116.21)  3. Manually upgrade primary image  4. Change active boot image  5. Clear Configuration Please enter your choice:

Step7. Type 5 and press enter

Step8. As you press enter the controller will reset to default setting and will take you to initial configuration wizard.

Step9. Configure the initial setup using the document WLC initial configuration. And make sure that you get the reachability between WLC and FTP server.

Step10. Download the configuration from FTP server to WLC by referring to document Download configuration from FTP server to WLC.