Packet™ Magazine Archives, Fourth Quarter 1998 Table of Contents Cisco NetWorks Program Ensures High-Quality, Reliable Internet Access Products Q&A -- The TAC Answers Cisco Users' Top Questions Q&A -- The TAC Answers Cisco Users' Top Questions This article provides a quick reference for answers to questions frequently asked by users who call Cisco's Technical Assistance Center (TAC). A wealth of product and support information is also available on Cisco's Web site, Cisco Connection Online (CCO). Check the URLs listed with each response for detailed information. What Do You Think? Do you find this information useful? Let us know! Send your feedback or questions for future issues to packet-editors@cisco.com, subject line: TAC Q&A. How can I find a router password if I have forgotten or lost it? All Cisco routers and Catalyst® switches provide functions for recovering both the access and superuser passwords. You can view or change the password or erase the existing configuration and enter a new configuration (including passwords) for the router or switch. Specific procedures for password recovery vary according to the router or switch model, and in some cases depend on the software version installed. You can perform password recovery on most platforms without changing hardware jumpers; however, all platforms require reloading the router. In addition, the password recovery procedure can only be run by connecting a computer to the physical console port on the router or switch. For a list of break-key combinations used in the password recovery process, see www.cisco.com/warp/public/701/61.html. Where can I find sample configurations for routers? CCO offers a large number of sample configuration files that provide a helpful starting point when installing a new router. Sample configurations are available for LAN and IBM protocols, WAN types, security features, access setup, and more. The Access Dial Cookbook, also on CCO, contains common configurations for various access routers and dial technologies. The sample configurations are also useful for troubleshooting problem conditions before calling the Cisco TAC. Use the sample configuration to check for missing or incorrect command statements or other items that may be different in your actual router configuration file. You may be able to identify and correct the problem source with a simple change to the configuration file. All files contain router command statements that you can copy and paste into your router configuration file. Simply insert the correct router and host names, addresses, and other parameters specific to your installation before saving the file on the router. How can I determine which Cisco router models are Year 2000-compliant? The Cisco Year 2000 ("Y2K") Web pages on CCO include a compliance table for all Cisco products. If you have a product that is not listed in the table, send e-mail to year2000@cisco.com for help in determining compliance status for your product. A general discussion of Year 2000 compliance is available at the URL www.cisco.com/warp/public/752/2000. For a current list of the compliance status for specific Cisco product models, see www.cisco.com/warp/public/752/2000/ cptbl_ov.htm. You can also access this list from a "Year 2000 Compliance" button on the CCO home page at the URL www.cisco.com. Where can I find phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Cisco TAC? The document at www.cisco.com/warp/public/ 687/Directory/DirTAC.html presents a list of telephone numbers for Cisco technical support in all regions. This document also lists e-mail addresses for local language support. For general information on the services and resources available from the Cisco TAC, visit the URL www.cisco.com/public/support/help.shtml. Table of Contents Posted: Thu Feb 4 17:10:00 PST 1999 Copyright © 1998 Cisco Systems, Inc.