HPE (HP / Aruba)

HPE (HP / Aruba) HPE 6125 Password Recovery

Step-by-step password recovery for the HPE (HP / Aruba) HPE 6125 (Comware 5120-5940). 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 HPE 6125 running HPE Comware (the HPE/HP 51xx, 55xx, 59xx, 61xx, 75xx switch line) when the login password is lost. Comware's Boot ROM menu provides a "skip configuration" option that boots the switch without applying the saved configuration — passwords are cleared while the config files remain.

Prerequisites

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

Recovery Procedure — Boot ROM Menu (skip configuration)

Connect the console cable and open a terminal session (9600 8N1).
Reboot the switch (power-cycle or reboot if you have access).
During boot, when the message "Press CTRL+B to enter Boot ROM menu" appears, press Ctrl+B within the countdown window.
You see the Boot ROM menu with options similar to:
[1] Boot System
[2] Set startup file
[3] Skip current configuration
[4] Restore to factory defaults
...
(numbering varies by Comware version)
Select the "Skip current configuration" option (typically option 3).
The switch boots WITHOUT applying the saved startup configuration — no login password is required (the device skips the saved user authentication).
Log in at the console (no password). You are in user view (<H3C> or <HPE> prompt).
Enter system view: system-view.
Reset the local user password: local-user <username> class manage → password simple <new-password> → quit. (The default admin user is often admin or h3c — check display local-user.)
If VTY line passwords exist, reset them: user-interface vty 0 4 → set authentication password simple <new-password> → quit.
Save the configuration: save force.
Reboot normally: reboot. The switch now boots with the saved config and the new password.

Important Notes

"Skip current configuration" boots once without the config — it does not delete the startup config file. You must re-save (save force) after changing passwords or the next normal boot reverts to the old config with the old passwords.
Comware 5 vs Comware 7 differ slightly in menu wording, but the "skip current configuration" option exists in both.
Default console login on factory Comware devices: user admin with no password (or the password set at initial setup).
The Boot ROM menu window is short — if you miss it, reboot and try again.
Baud rate is 9600 on Comware switches.

Protecting Your Configuration

Before recovery, back up the config: backup startup-configuration to tftp://<server>/<filename> or display current-configuration captured to a file. After recovery, verify display current-configuration and save with save force.