Cisco Switch Default Password
Cisco is a Silicon Valley corporation that develops, manufactures, and markets networking and telecommunication equipment, software, and services. Routers and switches are the most notable products of Cisco. When you unbox your Cisco switch or router and turn it on, the first setup of the device requires login through the console.
The default username and password are both “cisco” or “admin” with default IP addresses of 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.254. Then, you get prompted to set and configure a new passcode for your Cisco account. The complexity of the password is automatically enabled, and if the password that you enter is not strong enough, you are asked to come up with a more complex one.
Why simple passcode is a potential threat
Passwords are used to authenticate the user accessing the switch or router, so a simple passcode causes potential security issues. Password strength requirements are applied by default and can be configured as necessary. Cisco also provides the option to configure the password strength and settings through the web-based utility of the switch or router.
If the default login information doesn't work, it means that it has been changed at least once. Unlike home routers, Cisco business routers and switches have special login info recovery features, so a full factory reset is not needed. Most network devices work with the default IP address they come with. But for corporate routers (especially switches), default IP addresses are often changed upon installation.
