Configuring Administrator Usernames and Passwords

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Information About Configuring Administrator Usernames and Passwords

You can configure administrator usernames and passwords to prevent unauthorized users from reconfiguring the switch and viewing configuration information. This section provides instructions for initial configuration and for password recovery.

You can also set administrator usernames and passwords to manage and configure one or more access points that are associated with the switch.

Strong Passwords

You can set strong administrator passwords such as encrypted passwords with ASCII keys for the administrator user for managing access points.

Use the following guidelines while creating strong passwords:

  • There should be at least three of the following categories—lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and digits, and special characters.


    Note

    Special characters are not supported for username and password for GUI login.

  • The new password should not be the same as that of the associated username and the username should not be reversed.

  • The characters in the password should not be repeated more than three times consecutively.

  • The password should not be cisco, ocsic, admin, nimda, or any variant obtained by changing the capitalization of letters therein, or by substituting "1" "|" or "!" for i, and/or substituting "0" for "o", and/or substituting "$" for "s".

  • The maximum number of characters accepted for the username and password is 32.

Encrypted Passwords

You can set three types of keys for the password:

  • Randomly generated key—This key is generated randomly and it is the most secure option. To export the configuration file from one system to another, the key should also be exported.

  • Static key—The simplest option is to use a fixed (static) encryption key. By using a fixed key, no key management is required, but if the key is somehow discovered, the data can be decrypted by anyone with the knowledge of that key. This is not a secure option and it is called obfuscation in the CLI.

  • User defined key—You can define the key by yourself. To export the configuration file from one system to another, both systems should have the same key configured.

Configuring Administrator Usernames and Passwords

Procedure

  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

Switch# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.
Step 2

wireless security strong-password

Example:

Switch(config)# wireless security strong-password

Enables strong password policy for the administrator user.

Step 3

username admin-username password {0 unencrypted_password | 7 hidden_password | unencrypted_text}

Example:

Switch(config)# username adminuser1 password 0 QZsek239@

Specifies a username and password for an administrator.

The administrator can configure the switch and view the configured information.

Step 4

username admin-username secret {0 unencrypted_secret_text | 4 SHA256 encrypted_secret_text | 5 MD5 encrypted_secret_text | LINE}

Example:

Switch(config)# username adminuser1 secret 0 QZsek239@

Specifies the secret for the administrator.

Step 5

ap mgmtuser username username password {0 unencrypted password | 8 AES encrypted password }secret {0 unencrypted password | 8 AES encrypted password }

Example:

Switch(config)# ap mgmtuser username cisco password 0 Qwci12@ secret 0 Qwci14@!

Specifies administrator username and password for managing all of the access points configured to the switch.

You can also include the secret text to perform privileged access point management.

Note 
If your password is not strong enough to fulfill the strong password policy, then the password is rejected with a valid error message. For example, the following password is rejected because it is not a strong password. 
Switch# ap mgmtuser username cisco password 0 abcd secret 0 1234
Step 6

ap dot1x username username password {0 unencrypted password | 8 AES encrypted password }

Example:

Switch(config)# ap dot1x username cisco password 0 Qwci12@

Specifies the 802.1X username and password for managing all of the access points configured to the switch.

Step 7

end

Example:

Switch(config)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode. Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl-Z to exit global configuration mode.

Step 8

ap name apname mgmtuser username usernamepassword password secret secret _text

Example:

Switch# ap name APf0f7.55c7.7b23 mgmtuser username cisco password Qne35! secret Nzep592$

Configures the administrator username, password, and secret text for managing a specific access point that is configured to the switch.

Step 9

ap name apname dot1x-user username password password

Example:

Switch# ap name APf0f7.55c7.7b23 dot1x-user username cisco password Qne35!

Configures the 802.1X username and password for a specific access point.

Example

Examples: Administrator Usernames and Passwords Configuration

This example shows how to configure administrator usernames and passwords with the strong password policy in configuration mode: 

Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# wireless security strong-password 
Switch(config)# username adminuser1 password 0 QZsek239@
Switch(config)# ap mgmtuser username cisco password 0 Qwci12@ secret 0 Qwci14@!
Switch(config)# ap dot1x username cisco password 0 Qwci12@
Switch# end
This example shows how to configure administrator usernames and passwords for an access point in global EXEC mode: 

Switch# wireless security strong-password 
Switch# ap name APf0f7.55c7.7b23 mgmtuser username cisco password Qwci12@ secret Qwci14@
Switch# ap name APf0f7.55c7.7b23 dot1x-user username cisco password Qwci12@
Switch# end

Additional References for Administrator Usernames and Passwords

Related Documents

Related Topic Document Title
System management commands

System Management Command Reference Guide (Cisco IOS XE Release 3SE (Cisco WLC 5700 Series)

Standards and RFCs

Standard/RFC Title
None

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MIBs

MIB MIBs Link
All supported MIBs for this release.

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http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

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Feature History and Information For Performing Administrator Usernames and Passwords Configuration

Release Feature Information
Cisco IOS XE 3.2SECisco IOS XE 3.3SECisco IOS XE 3.3SE This feature was introduced.