This article will describe how to reset the password on the HP Procurve series if you have forgot it. It also describes how to disable the clear button on the switch. this means that if anyone had access to the switch they could not press the button and clear all passwords. I will also show you how to disable the reset switch. this means you can not reset the hardware settings for the switch.

Lets say you have forgot your password for your switch and you can no longer authenticate via telnet or console etc. It is just a simple case of pressing the “clear” button for 10 seconds. Once done the manager password resets to default. See the image below.

 

Remember: The default password for a HP switch is blank.

If you would like to disable the clear password button on the front of the HP Procurve switch then enter the following. First enter the config context.

 conf t

Now you are in your config context you will see your switch name and config as below.

Switch(config)#

Now enter the command below to disable the clear button

Switch(config)# no front-panel-security password-clear

You will also notice the reset button next to the clear button. To disable this button enter the following.

Switch(config)# no front-panel-security factory-reset

Both buttons are now disabled.
If you would like to enable these buttons again, do so with the commands below.

Switch(config)# front-panel-security password-clear

Switch(config)# front-panel-security factory-reset

Finally if you are unsure of the status of the reset and clear buttons on the procurve switch then enter the following.

Switch(config)# show front-panel-security