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Cisco 3900 Series, Cisco 2900 Series, and Cisco 1900 Series Integrated Services Routers Generation 2 Software Configuration Guide
Chapter       Administering the Wireless Device
Protecting Access to Privileged EXEC Commands
To configure encryption for enable and enable secret passwords, follow these steps, beginning in 
privileged EXEC mode.
SUMMARY STEPS
1. configure terminal
2. enable password [level level] {password | encryption-type encrypted-password}
or
enable secret [level level] {password | encryption-type encrypted-password}
3. service password-encryption
4. end
5. copy running-config startup-config
DETAILED STEPS
Command Purpose
Step 1
configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Step 2
enable password [level level] {password | 
encryption-type encrypted-password}
or
enable secret [level level] {password | 
encryption-type encrypted-password}
Defines a new password or changes an existing password for 
access to privileged EXEC mode.
or
Defines a secret password, which is saved using a 
nonreversible encryption method.
• (Optional) For level, the range is from 0 to 15. Level 1 is 
normal user EXEC mode privileges. The default level is 
15 (privileged EXEC mode privileges).
• For password, specify a string from 1 to 25 
alphanumeric characters. The string cannot start with a 
number, is case sensitive, and allows spaces but ignores 
leading spaces. By default, no password is defined. 
• (Optional) For encryption-type, only type 5, a Cisco 
proprietary encryption algorithm, is available. If you 
specify an encryption type, you must provide an 
encrypted password—an encrypted password you copy 
from another access point wireless device configuration.
Note If you specify an encryption type and then enter a 
clear text password, you cannot reenter privileged 
EXEC mode. You cannot recover a lost encrypted 
password by any method.
Step 3
service password-encryption (Optional) Encrypts the password when the password is 
defined or when the configuration is written.
Encryption prevents the password from being readable in the 
configuration file.
Step 4
end Returns to privileged EXEC mode.
Step 5
copy running-config startup-config (Optional) Saves your entries in the configuration file.