If you loose the administrator password for the Motorola Wireless LAN Switch (WS5000, WS5100) you can factory default the configuration and administrator password with the following procedure.
You’ll need to console up to the physical switch with a null serial cable. I believe the majority of Motorola (Symbol) equipment defaults to 19200-8-N-1. You need to login to the console as the username “restore” with the password of “restoreDefaultPassword”. Here’s an example;
WS5100 login: cli User Access Verification Username: restore Password: restoreDefaultPasword WARNING: This will wipe out the configuration (except license key) and user data under "flash:/" and reboot the device Do you want to continue? (y/n): y
After the switch reboots you’ll need to use the default administrator username and password to log into the switch. They are username “admin” and password “Symbol”. I’ve seen some cases where the password was “symbol”, the difference being the case of the first letter.
Cheers!
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#1 by Anonymous on January 30, 2008 - 3:38 pm
hmm i have WS5000 (on back of the switch is WS5100) and this advice doesn’t work!! My switch is: SYMBOL WS5000 2.1.0.0-029R
I can login with admin/symbol but there is no option to change password / reste switch.
HELP how to reset that kind of switch/situation :)
#2 by Michael McNamara on January 30, 2008 - 5:46 pm
I’m sorry to hear that didn’t work for you. Please remember that you need to serial up to the switch and the username/password are case sensitive.
If you already have access to the switch you can load the default configuration with the following commands;
WS5100> configure
WS5100.(Cfg)> restore configuration WS5000Defaults_v2.1.3.0-010R.cfg
Just replace the “WS5000Defaults_v2.1.3.0-010R.cfg” above with the default configuration file that already sits on your switch. You can find it by issuing a “dir” command. If you are running v2.1.0.0-029R then the filename should be WS5000Defaults_v2.1.0.0-029R.cfg”.
If you wish to change the admin password then issue the following commands;
WS5100> configure
WS5100.(Cfg)> user admin password
Then just answer the prompts.
Good Luck!
#3 by Anonymous on February 6, 2008 - 8:56 am
Hello, please hel me:
The WS5100 is in mode Fault in boot and need the “Diagnostic mode password”.
¿What is the password?
Thank you
Gerardo
#4 by Anonymous on April 29, 2008 - 5:11 pm
Was Initially able to Get into CLI and WEB Interface Now I can only Ping the IP Address can not get WEB Interface
3.0.2.0-008R.v2
Can I reset Factory Default? How
#5 by Michael McNamara on May 5, 2008 - 10:16 am
You you’ll need to follow the instructions above in order to factory reset the wireless switch. You’ll need to connect to the serial interface (19200-8-N-1) in order to reset the switch. I believe the serial cable will need to a nulled (crossover – transmit and receive pairs crossed).
If the switch boots in diagnostic mode you really don’t have many options available. You can either return it to Motorola/Symbol for repair or you can use it as a door stop.
Cheers!
#6 by Anonymous on June 4, 2008 - 1:20 pm
I have a Symbol WS5000 that keeps rebooting and doesn’t give me the option to login. Is there any way for me to short a combination of pins to reset it?
#7 by Michael McNamara on June 9, 2008 - 6:18 pm
The short answer is no. The long answer is complicated depending on what version of software you’re running on the WS5100.
The older switch v2.x software would generally just bomb out to a CLI> or DEBUG> prompt which was basically useless. The newer switch v3.x software appears to generally sense that there is some problem and literally reboots the switch. If there is a problem with the software or configuration the switch will just continually reboot itself. Thankfully the v3.x software allows for two versions of software with a feature called “Software image failover”. If the current software image fails to load properly the switch will attempt to boot from the other installed image. Unfortunately this feature needs to be enabled and saved to the configuration before any problem surfaces.
Assuming you have a WS5100 Wireless LAN Switch v3.x and if you know the previous image name you could interrupt the LILO boot process and try typing in the name of the image file followed by the ENTER key.
You could always RMA the device to Motorola if your unsuccessful.
Good Luck!
#8 by Luis on August 12, 2008 - 1:36 pm
hi, I need some help, because I have a Symbol WS5000 but can’t access it, when I enter restore and restoreDefaultPassword it gives me **incorrect**
here is an example
there has been some time since the last time I’ve used switches configuring them from the console, thanks for the help
*******************************************
SKDB kernel debugger installed.
WARNING: Switch was not shutdown properly!
Booting Wireless Switch 5000…
System date set to: Tue Aug 12 17:07:36 GMT 2008
Checking filesystem on root device……..done.
Mounting all filesystems…done.
Setting up proper file permissions…done.
Performing maintenance cleanup…done.
Configuring speed and duplexity of ethernet interfaces…done.
Configuring network services and devices…
Configuring existing vlan tags…done.
Configuring loopback interface…done.
Configuring ethernet interfaces…done.
————– Interfaces ————-
IP address of NIC 1: 10.1.1.101
IP address of NIC 2: 10.95.2.167
—————————————
Starting inetd daemon…done.
Starting sshd daemon…done.
Network successfully configured.
Setting up routes…done.
Flushing stale dns entries….done.
Launching database main thread…done.
Starting background monitor…done.
Checking database integrity
Launching auto-configuration procedure…
DHCP client is not running on interface proa0.
Exiting auto-configuration…
Starting cell controller….done.
Starting snmpd daemon…done.
user name:restore
password:
**incorrect**
*******************************************
#9 by Michael McNamara on August 12, 2008 - 3:51 pm
It looks like you skipped the first username. You should respond to the first username prompt with “cli”.
The following username and password prompts should be “restore” and “restoreDefaultPasword” respectively.
I would suggest you read the original article again. While the prompt may be slightly different between a WS5000 and WS5100 the basics should apply.
Thanks for the comment.
#10 by Luis on August 12, 2008 - 4:58 pm
Thanks, yep, I skip that part, but It still makes the same mistake
user name:cli
Symbol Wireless Switch WS 5000 Series.
Please enter your username and password to access the Command Line Interface.
userid: restore
password: **********************
ERROR: Authentication failed.
ERROR: Invalid user name or password.
#11 by Luis on August 12, 2008 - 5:59 pm
Hi, thanks for the help, anyway I got the answer
username: admin
password: restore_default_password
hope this could be useful for someone else
#12 by Xarrk on February 3, 2010 - 8:27 pm
Thanks! admin user name followed by restore_default_password worked for mine as well. I didn’t see that in ANY of the documentation. Your post is greatly appreciated.
#13 by Michael McNamara on February 3, 2010 - 9:10 pm
I’m happy to hear that it was useful to you!
Cheers!
#14 by Michael McNamara on August 12, 2008 - 6:04 pm
Thanks for posting that information Luis!
#15 by quistler on August 17, 2008 - 10:23 am
heej, i also got a problem.
i want to reset met ws5000, i plugged in the serial cable and made a vt100 emulation..
when i can enter my username and pass, i only can enter my username..
when he asks for my password i cant enter anything!?!
the only button i can use is the enter button, so he tells me that the pass is invalid..
is it a bug? ore a known problem?
grtz from holland ;)
#16 by Michael McNamara on August 17, 2008 - 11:11 am
Thanks for the comment quistler.
Hopefully you’ve covered the obvious already… the first username being “cli”. If you have another WS5000/WS5100 why don’t you try logging into them to test your serial cable and connection (just you the admin username – default password of that account on a WS5000 could be “Symbol” or “symbol”).
Good Luck!
#17 by quistler on August 17, 2008 - 1:29 pm
Michael & everyone else.. Thank You!
Iam in my WS5000 and restoring the rom!
without you i was lost! keep up the good work!
As u said i used the cli command and it worked!
grtz!
#18 by Gerardo on May 18, 2009 - 2:02 pm
Hello,
please, i need the “password maintenance” of WS5100.
What is ?
Due to an error in the boot (LILO) asked me this password
Thank you
Gerard
#19 by Michael McNamara on May 18, 2009 - 10:53 pm
Hi Gerardo,
I don’t know the answer to your question but I believe I’ve seen the prompt that your talking about. Unfortunately if the switch fails to boot successfully there’s not much you can do with it, even if you had the “Linux” shell passwords.
I believe a few folks were succesful in cloning their DOMs and were able to restore the file system. It’s usually the DOMs that go bad and leave the switch useless. You could always ship it back to Motorola for repairs.
Good Luck!
#20 by jaime gonzalez on June 11, 2009 - 7:44 am
Hi everybody I need support for my switch
I send the actual status
LILO 22.6.1 boot:
Loading WS5000Switch……………………
BIOS data check successful
INIT: version 2.78 booting
Loading WS5k Switch
Welcome To WS5k from Symbol Technologies Inc
Setting hostname : …..
WS5100PGPBVilla
Remounting root filesystem in read-write mode: …..
Finding module dependencies: …..
Installing the Symbol CC Device Drivers ….
Loading Shared Memory : …..
Loading SuperIO Driver : …..
Detected Symbol Platform …..WS5100…..
Loading Ethernet Driver……..
Note: /etc/modules.conf is more recent than /lib/modules/2.4.20_mvl31/modules.dep
Bringing up Ethernet Ports ………
Loading Packet Switch : …..
Loading Statistics Driver : …..
Loading ICE : …..
Mounting local filesystems: …..
mount: proc already mounted
Activating swap…
Checking root file system…Failed
fsck failed. Please repair manually and reboot. Please note
that the root file system is currently mounted read-only. To
remount it read-write:
# mount -n -o remount,rw /
CONTROL-D will exit from this shell and REBOOT the system.
Give root password for maintenance
(or type Control-D for normal startup):
no finish the boot, what happend it ???.
regards
jaime
#21 by Michael McNamara on June 11, 2009 - 9:23 am
Hi Jamie,
Unfortunately for you it seems that you have either a faulty flash IDE drive (DOM) or it’s somehow become corrupted. There isn’t much you can do to resolve the problem without a) returning it for service to Motorola or b) opening up the appliance and trying to reformat the DOM and/or replace the DOM cloning it from another system.
It does seem that the DOM is usually the piece to break… especially on the older WS5000 switches.
Good Luck!
#22 by Pedro Peyuco on July 1, 2009 - 11:06 am
Good Morning
I have a problem with my ws5100. when i try to connect to the monitor. the screen only display.
SKDB kernel debugger installed.
SKDB kernel debugger installed.
And don´t let me do anything.
thank you.
#23 by Michael McNamara on July 1, 2009 - 9:29 pm
Hi Pedro,
What version of software are you running on the WS5100? Is there any other output on the console connection (19200-8-N-1)?
I’m trying to recall what the old 1.4.x or 2.x software looked like when it booted up on the WS5000/WS5100 but I can recall right now.
Without going much further I would guess that you probably have a bad/corrupt DOM, that’s usually the part that breaks the most. If it doesn’t respond there isn’t much you can do with it other than sending it back to Motorola for service or cracking open the case and trying to replace the DOM.
Good Luck!
#24 by Rags on July 2, 2009 - 1:45 am
Hi I am not able to connect to my switch using browser. I am able to ping and access thru telent client. where to check whether my web server is working or not and on which IP it is listening to. Thanks
#25 by Michael McNamara on July 2, 2009 - 10:39 am
Hi Rags,
The default configuration of the WS5100/RFS7000 is setup for a secure web server over SSL. You would need to use https:// and not http:// in your browser.
Example;
https://ws5100.acme.org
Good Luck!
#26 by Drew Hearle on July 13, 2009 - 3:57 pm
Hi Michael,
This is slightly unrelated, but there seem to be very few places on the ‘net where people are familiar with the Symbol/Motorola WLAN switches, and you seem to have some experience with them, so I figured I’d ask here. We just set up the lower-end WS2000 at my place of business, and we are having some performance problems. When using it as a router/gateway to a 20mbps fiber connection, I’m only able to get 1-2mbps throughput to the WAN (via wired or wireless connections to the switch). This happens even with only a single client and default settings on the switch. Do you know if the WS2000 has a WAN speed limit, or if there’s some config setting that bogs down performance?
#27 by Michael McNamara on July 17, 2009 - 4:46 pm
Hi Drew,
I’ve started a forum which I hope to start populating with content very soon.
http://forums.networkinfrastructure.info/motorola-wireless-lan-switches/
In the meantime let me try to help you asses the problem. I’m using the WS2000 to power 2 AP300s, however I’m using a different physical router hence I’m just using the bridging (switch) component built into the product and not the WAN (router aspect) Ethernet port. What version of software are you running? There have been a lot of improvements in the WS2000 over the years which can be seen in the number of different software releases. I’m assuming you checked for speed and duplex issue on the WAN Ethernet port?
Good Luck!
#28 by Ron on August 20, 2009 - 4:24 pm
Hey Mike,
I will be running the same setup as you have except with 3 AP300s. I’m still waiting for the equipment to arrive but can you summarize how you set up your equipment to pull IP addresses from a router outside the switch? Is it a simple setup?
It would be helpful to know in advance how to configure these switches.
Thanks in advance,
Ron
#29 by Michael McNamara on August 20, 2009 - 6:36 pm
Hi Ron,
I’ve already written a post providing the basic information. Have a look at this post;
http://blog.michaelfmcnamara.com/2007/11/layer-3-access-port-adoption/
The only caveat is that you need to prime the AP300s before you try to deploy them over a Layer 3 network. Out of the box most AP300s don’t have the necessary firmware/software that supports Layer 3 adoption. When you connect the AP300 to the same Layer 2 network as the WS5100/RFS7000 the AP will automatically upgrade itself and reboot. Once the AP300 is upgraded you can deploy it over a Layer 3 network.
You can use DHCP or DNS (I haven’t tried the DNS method personally) to assist the AP300s in finding the Wireless LAN Switch. I’m currently deploying about 30 AP300s using Layer 3 adoption and I use DHCP for all of them. I just document the MAC address of the AP300 and then set it up within my DHCP configuration so the AP300 will get a valid IP address for that Layer 3 network and it will also be provided with DHCP option 189 in the following format, “aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd,eee.fff.ggg.hhh” where the primary switch is aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd and the backup switch is eee.fff.ggg.hhh.
Good Luck!
#30 by JD on November 2, 2009 - 4:22 am
Hi, this sounds basic, but what are the serial settings for the console access? I couldnt get it to work with Putty? what software do you suggest to access?
#31 by Michael McNamara on November 3, 2009 - 12:27 am
Hi JD,
The majority of the Symbol/Motorola Wireless Access Points/Switches run at 19200, 8, N, 1 on the serial interface. I use PuTTY and from time to time HyperTerminal (comes with Windows XP).
Good Luck!
#32 by JD on November 3, 2009 - 8:30 am
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the response. I was able to get in now. So happened that the null cable used was faulty.
Cheers!
JD
#33 by Torrey on February 3, 2010 - 3:12 pm
Hi Michael,
I am getting a WS5000 and wanted to upgrade the firmware on the unit, but motorola needs me to fill out a download request form before downloading it. Is there another place to get the update? Can the WS5000 support the AP300? The manual doesn’t mention it.
Thanks, Torrey
#34 by Michael McNamara on February 3, 2010 - 9:14 pm
H Torrey,
You need to be running 2.x software on the WS5000 to have it adopt an AP300. Unfortunately, since Motorola acquired Symbol they now require a maintenance contract to get software updates. I’m sorry but I can’t make the software available.
Good Luck!
#35 by PaulSmith on February 5, 2010 - 4:44 am
Hi Michael,
I have a customer who has a WS2000 setup and running on his site. The proble being that he has forgotten the login password :(
I have attached to the unit using a Null modem cable and using hyper Terminal, I get to the login prompt :)
I have tried the 2 combinations of username and password in this post, but both get refused.
I have entered this at the fisrt prompt that appears on the hyper terminal screen, am I missing a step or is there another combination of username and password for this unit?
#36 by PaulSmith on February 5, 2010 - 5:43 am
Ignore last post, all sorted now, Cheers anyway for the resource
#37 by Michael McNamara on February 5, 2010 - 11:31 am
Hi Paul,
Glad to hear you got things working.
Cheers!
#38 by Dennis on February 26, 2010 - 3:49 am
Hi Michael,
I have the exact same problem as #35 PaulSmith. I did lost my password after a factory restore through putty. When I got asked to enter a new password through the console, I typed in SharpIsTheBest. Problem is now that the unit says wrong password (think the 11 char cap messed things up). I can ping the unit, see the webinterface and access it through putty. My unit is by the way a WS2000. Tried restore/restoreDefaultPassword, admin/symbol, admin/Symbol, admin/restore_default_password, admin/SharpIsTheB and alot of other combos! Please help me :-( I’m completly out of ideas!
Thanks in advance Michael!
#39 by Michael McNamara on February 26, 2010 - 6:44 pm
Hi Dennis,
Were you already successful in factory resetting the unit? If so why not factory reset it again?
I don’t believe the WS2000 behalves like the WS5100/RFS7000 so I don’t believe any of the commands above will be applicable.
I’m not aware of the procedure to factory reset the WS2000 and in my quick search I was able to find one. Your best bet is the serial interface, perhaps when it is booting there is some option.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Good Luck!
#40 by Dennis on March 2, 2010 - 4:04 am
Hi again,
Many thanks for the quick answer Michael.
I had the admin password to begin with. The problem is now that the typed in password, after factory defaults, was to long (11 chars max). I didn’t realise that before it was to late. Now it will not take in the new password, even if I stop typing after the eleventh char. Just giving me the darn error with ‘wrong password’ reply! argh…!
I even open the case just to check if there was a backup battery I could take out to reset the unit. But no luck!!!
Finally I tried the bootup thing you suggested, and I saw the following in one of the first lines when powering up the device:
WS 2000 Boot Firmware Version 2.0.0.0-036R
Copyright(c) Symbol Technologies Inc. 2003. All rights reserved.
Press escape key to run boot firmware ….
boot>
I did press escape, and now it just waiting for input with boot>
Maybe I could type something here? Not a big unix/linux user.
Again many thanks in advance!
#41 by Dennis on March 2, 2010 - 7:17 am
Hi everyone,
I finally figured it out! Weeee! :-)
For people with the WS 2000, who’s need the factory default password (admin/symbol) restored to the device, do the following.
When booting and getting the message ‘press escape key to run boot firmware….’ press ESC. Then when the prompt says boot> write this:
boot> passwd default
boot> reboot
Now type in a new password when asked to :-)
Hope it can help somebody out with same problem as I had.
Cheers all!
#42 by Michael McNamara on March 2, 2010 - 12:38 pm
Thanks for sharing that information Dennis!
Great stuff!
#43 by Torrey Wente on March 9, 2010 - 12:37 pm
Hi. I just received my CC-5000-SME-WW switches and found out they have no flash chips in them. I guess the previous company didn’t want their stuff on them. What type of flash chip is used in them? Where can I get the image to flash it? Is it possible to take a image off one and put it on another? Thanks, Torrey
#44 by Torrey Wente on March 9, 2010 - 8:17 pm
Also, can I clone a 5100 to a 5000? They both share the same firmware, right? Is it important as to what kind of DOM you use? is there a upper and lower limit on how big or small the chip has to be for it to read? I was also looking at the setup of the system and came upon a question. Can you use a PCI video card in conjunction with the Symbol/Motorola firmware to allow an onboard CLI interface with a keyboard and mouse? Thanks, Torrey
#45 by Michael McNamara on March 9, 2010 - 8:36 pm
Hi Torrey,
Unfortunately the hardware you have is essentially useless without the DOM. I haven’t personally attempted to replace the DOM but you can see from the comments above there have been quite a few that have tried.
Even if you manage to get a replacement DOM that physically works you won’t have any software, even if you get the software you won’t have the license key that determines how many APs the switch can adopt.
You can’t clone a WS5100 to a WS5000, they generally run different versions of software. The WS5000 will run v2.x while the WS5100 will run v3.x.
Sorry I can’t be of more help. Good Luck!
#46 by Torrey Wente on March 9, 2010 - 9:38 pm
Hey again. If you clone a WS5000 to another WS5000 and try using them at the same time, will there be licensing issues? Do the license numbers on the back do anything as far as registering them? Does the device register with Motorola before becoming active? Thanks, Torrey
BTW: The machines with bad DOM’s would be great for running Untangle on to make them into firewalls.
#47 by Michael McNamara on March 9, 2010 - 9:48 pm
HI Torrey,
The license is tied to the MAC address of the NIC hardware. So you could clone a WS5000, which I believe people have done successfully but the license file wouldn’t match up with the MAC address and while the switch would boot and run it wouldn’t adopt any Access Ports (APs).
The Wireless LAN Switch ships from the factory with the license already applied to the system. In the 2.x software you can’t really access the license file because the system is based on Lynx (I believe it was based on Lynx). In the 3.x software the system is based on Linux and you can access the license file and even export and/or back it up.
If you were a large Motorola (formerly Symbol) customer you could contact Motorola and ask them to provide the license information based on the MAC address of the switch.
Good Luck!