Extreme

Extreme VDX 8770 Password Recovery

Step-by-step password recovery for the Extreme VDX 8770 (VDX (VOSS)). Console access required.

Overview

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for resetting lost or forgotten administrative passwords on enterprise networking hardware. Follow the procedure below carefully to regain access while preserving your device configuration.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with password recovery, ensure you have a console cable, terminal emulation software configured to 9600 baud, and physical access to the device.

Step 1: Establish Console Connection

Connect your terminal cable to the console port of the device and open your serial terminal session.

Step 2: Interrupt the Boot Sequence

Power cycle the hardware and issue a Break key sequence during initial system startup to enter ROMMON mode.

Step 3: Reset Password & Configuration

Bypass startup configuration loading, boot into system software, set your new credentials, and save changes back to non-volatile memory.

Overview

This procedure recovers administrator access to the Extreme VDX 8770 running Extreme Networks NOS (the operating system on VDX switches) when the admin password is lost. NOS provides a boot-time recovery option to reset the admin account.

Prerequisites

Console cable with a terminal session at 9600 baud, 8N1. Physical or remote power access to reboot the switch.

Recovery Procedure

Connect the console cable and open a terminal session (9600 8N1).
Reboot the switch (power-cycle or reload if you have access).
During the boot process, when the boot prompt appears (GRUB-based boot menu on NOS), press a key to interrupt the automatic boot and enter the boot menu.
At the boot menu, select the recovery / reset password option (labeled "Password Recovery" or similar on NOS).
Confirm the recovery. NOS resets the admin password to the default (empty or admin).
The switch continues booting. Log in as admin with the default/empty password.
Set a new admin password: admin password <new-password> (or via configure terminal → username admin password <new-password> on some releases).
Save the configuration: copy running-config startup-config.

Important Notes

If the boot menu does not show a password-recovery option, use the GRUB edit approach: interrupt boot → press 'e' on the NOS entry → append single (or init=/bin/bash) to the kernel line → boot to a root shell → mount -o remount,rw / → clear/set the admin password → reboot.
The config is preserved by the NOS password-recovery option; the GRUB single-user method also preserves it (you only touch the password database).
Baud rate is 9600 on VDX switches.

Protecting Your Configuration

Before recovery, back up the config: copy running-config tftp://<server>/<filename> or show running-config captured to a file. After recovery, verify and re-save.