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Forum Discussion
inky
Oct 15, 2016Guide
GS108Ev2 incorrect password after restoring configuration
I have 3 Netgear GS108Ev2 switches. All 3 units have firmware 1.00.12, and I'm using the Prosafe Utility v2.3.20 Recently I reconfigured the VLANs in my local netowrk, and after modifying the s...
- Oct 19, 2016
Suggestion added. It's here:
Thanks!
DaneA
Oct 16, 2016NETGEAR Employee Retired
Hi inky,
Welcome to the community! :)
Kindly answer the questions below:
a. What was the firmware version of the 3 GS108Ev2 switches before you have upgraded it to firmware v1.00.12?
b. Have you tried to perform a factory reset the 3 GS108Ev2 switches before you have restored the configuration?
I look forward to your response.
Regards,
DaneA
NETGEAR Community Team
- inkyOct 16, 2016Guide
Hello DaneA,
thanks for your reply.
a. What was the firmware version of the 3 GS108Ev2 switches before you have upgraded it to firmware v1.00.12?
I don't remember. The firmware upgrade was done long ago. I'm pretty sure that after upgrading I edited the settings, saved configuration, restored it, edited more, re-saved configuration, etc. several times. The lost password problem only emerged this time, several months later, after I'd updated the Prosafe utility - not the switch firmware. Maybe it's not even related to that.
b. Have you tried to perform a factory reset the 3 GS108Ev2 switches before you have restored the configuration?
Yes, all three of them. After resetting them, the hardcoded, default factory password is restored and the settings do get reset to defaults. Resetting to factory is the only way I can hope to restore the old configs, because otherwise I can't log in, so no way to restore settings. The lost password problem happens when I:
- factory reset the switch
- use the default factory password to log in so I can proceed to...
- restore the old configuration (Maintenance menu)
After I do this, the settings appear to be restored. Actually, I'm not quite sure, because I can't log in and examine the setting pages visually through the Prosafe utility interface, and therefore I can't edit anything. However, the previous behavior is apparently restored.
I'd at least need a way to read what those settings were, so I can reprogram them from scratch and hopefully edit them further to suit the needs of the growing network structure, and then save configuration again. The alternative is figuring out the whole LAN/VLAN setup through all the building and reprogram from scratch, with a lot of hit-and-miss experimentation.
- DaneAOct 16, 2016NETGEAR Employee Retired
Hi inky,
What I am thinking is that its possible that someone may have changed the password before the configuration was backed-up. Then, now that you have restored the back-up configuration file, you cannot login using the password that you usually know because someone has changed it. In relation to this, are you the only person who manages the network? If not, then kindly ask your colleagues if ever they have made password changes before.
Otherwise, the only procedure to do is to reconfigure everything from scratch which may take time.
Regards,
DaneA
NETGEAR Community Team
- inkyOct 17, 2016Guide
Hello DaneA,
I read your reply with interest.
What I am thinking is that its possible that someone may have changed the password before the configuration was backed-up.
I'm positive it's always only been me to manage all the switches and routers. Besides, I examined the saved config files in a hex editor and found out my password appears indeed. Has the file format changed with newer firmware versions? Can I try to salvage them by adding/removing a few bytes at specific offsets?
Otherwise, the only procedure to do is to reconfigure everything from scratch which may take time.
Could it help if I try to go back to a former firmware version before restoring the config?
I acquired these switches in 2013 if it helps to locate the most likely version.
Now a question for future harm reduction: what do you think happened exactly? I'm steadily adding more devices to the network, and soon more switches will be needed. If something like this happens again, the effects are going to fall somewhere between "quite inconvenient" and "nightmarish". I need to make sure I can avoid finding myself in this situation again. Any specific suggestions, beside maybe avoiding GS108E's?
Thanks again for your help!
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