[time-nuts] Spectracom 9189 password reset? Instructions in manual don't work :-(

[David Howells]

Hi Jason

Thank you for the suggestions. Yes, I interrupted the boot process but 
there is no prompt when I do that, I basically get a prompt/text saying 
something like "press any key to abort the boot process" and when I do 
there is no further communications.  I can try entering 
characters/help/etc but no response -not even an error message.  Then 
after 20 seconds or so the system returns to booting and I get the 
regular '>' prompt.  I do not think it is a linux based unit - it is 
possible to enter commands like "DIR" and see 3 empty directories (which 
look more like DOS directories than anything).  I've got a feeling that 
if Spectracom get back to me they are going to want to reflash the 
unit.  Shame really - the manual clearly states that entering "defaults' 
at a login prompt when connected directly to the serial port on the back 
of the unit should clear the passwords - it clearly does not!

I'll post to the group should I find a solution - there is one other 
member who is after a fix too.

With best regards

David.


On 2/10/2019 2:11 PM, Jason Rabel via time-nuts wrote:
>> Thank you for everyone's suggestions.  I'm definitely connected to the
>> correct serial port for configuration and communication using com port
>> settings 9600,n,8,1.  When power is applied I get various boot messages
>> before being presented with a ">" prompt whereupon I can enter "help"
>> and get some help text.  During the boot process there is prompt
>> indicating there is a 2 second delay where sending any character will
>> interrupt the boot process - but when I do that the system goes quiet
>> and doesn't appear to do anything else.
> The first ">" prompt sounds like it's BIOS related...
>
> The 2-second delay is the one you want to interrupt and enter your own boot
> commands.
>
> It's been too long since I've had to do this and like an idiot I never wrote
> down any notes. However just google something like "linux boot single user
> mode" and look for OLD tutorials where you actually have to enter in text,
> the newer guides all talk about menus and more modern bootloaders and such.
> But basically it involves adding the word "single" or "boot -s" or similar
> to the boot process which will eventually get you to the shell prompt. Then
> you will need to remount the partitions read/write (important if you want to
> save your changes). Check the manual too for how to change the passwords,
> some have special commands that will copy the passwd file to a certain
> location so that it survives across reboots.
>
>> BTW, for anyone interested, inside the unit, it is a custom PCB (fairly
>> large) with a GPS module (Motorola Oncore maybe?) and can be built with
>> either a small 10MHz oscillator or a much larger TCXO.
> I've never seen inside that particular unit. A couple pictures would be nice
> if you could post them online somewhere or shrink the file size enough to
> attach to your message.
>
>
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