NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
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...
Suggestion added. It's here:
Thanks!
Hello again,
Its nice to know that you were able to decipher what is the password is by using a hex editor. Were you able to login this time?
No, the password is indeed the one I knew. It just isn't recognized. I'm guessing the save file format has changed, and the device gets out of sync while reading the configuration.
It will be okay if you go back to a former firmware version before you restore the configuration file (I assume that the backup configuration file came from a former firmware version). Be reminded to perform a factory reset on the switch after you downgrade (or upgrade) the firmware.
Allright, so I'll try going through this annoying routine.
I don't know if you can get any feedback to the developers, but it would be nice to remind them to keep config file compatibility when upgrading the firmware (e.g., the new saved parameters should only be appended at the end of the old file format!). No use denying I'm more than a little disappointed by what happened.
Thanks for your helpful suggestions anyway.
Minimal summary
Only upgrade firmware if you know you need to. Recovering old config files is a major hassle, if it's possible at all.
Discussion
I think I found out what happened.
(From GS108Ev2 firmware v1.00.12 release notes)
WARNING - Please make sure the version of the Prosafe Plus Utility installed on your PC is v2.2.24 or newer before upgrading the GS108Ev2 firmware. Older versions of the Plus Utility do not support the password encryption required by V1.00.10 firmware.
In my understanding, what this means is:
To restore old configurations, the switches must be downgraded to firmware v1.00.09 or older. Otherwise the unencrypted passwords of old firmware versions won't be correctly read by newer firmware versions from 1.00.10 onwards, so you will be locked out of the switch until you reset it to factory.
The Prosafe utility must be downgraded to v2.2.23 or older too, or it will try to encrypt the passwords and the older firmare versions won't be able to read them, since they expect them uncrypted.
I reiterate my suggestion to the developers: at least put a cleartext header in the config file, so the switch (or the user!) knows which firmware version saved it. If you want to make it really functional, have appropriate checks at load (restore) time, so old unencrypted passwords keep on working on new firmware versions.
Hi inky,
About your suggestion, you may post it as a feature request in the Idea Exchange for Business here. Be reminded that adding kudos to the ideas will help as the development team will be reviewing the post that has the most kudos and it might be considered to be added on the future functionality of the product.
Regards,
DaneA
NETGEAR Community Team
Suggestion added. It's here:
Thanks!
NETGEAR Academy
Boost your skills with the Netgear Academy - Get trained, certified and stay ahead with the latest Netgear technology!
Join Us!
