Configuring Security
Defining Users
Cisco Small Business 300 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide  194
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• Password—Enter a password. If the password strength and complexity is 
defined, the user password must comply with the policy. This is configured 
in the Setting Password Complexity Rules section.
• Confirm Password—Enter the password again. 
• Password Strength Meter—Displays the strength of password. The policy 
for password strength and complexity are configured in the Password 
Strength Page.
STEP  4 Click Apply. The user is added, and the switch is updated.
Setting Password Complexity Rules
Passwords are used to authenticate users accessing the switch. Password 
management consists of setting general password complexity rules and the 
specific user passwords. Various aspects of password complexity are minimum 
password length, number of character classes, and the requirement that a new 
password be different from the previous one.
The Password Strength Page
 
enables setting password complexity, as well as 
aging (the length of time during which the password is valid).
To define password complexity rules:
STEP 1 Click Security > Password Strength. The Password Strength Page displays.
STEP  2 Select Enable Password Complexity Settings to apply minimal complexity rules 
for passwords.
STEP  3 Enter the parameters.
• Minimal Password Length—Enter the minimal number of characters 
required for passwords.
• Minimal Number of Character Classes—Enter the character classes that 
must comprise a password: lower case letters (1), upper case letters (2), 
digits (3), or special characters (4). 
• The New Password Must Be Different than the Current One—If selected, 
the new password cannot be the same as the current password.
• Password Aging—If selected, the user is prompted to change the password 
when the Password Aging Time expires.