The password recovery procedure for JUNOS release 5.x differs from previous JUNOS releases.

When the system first boots, you need to interrupt the boot routine by pressing any key other than return and enter the recovery mode:

1. From console, interrupt the boot routine:

   Hit [Enter] to boot immediately, or any other key for command prompt.
   Booting [kernel] in 9 seconds...
   
   <Press the space bar>
   

2. Enter single-user mode:

   Type '?' for a list of commands, 'help' for more detailed help.
   ok boot ?s
   

3. Start the shell:

   System watchdog timer disabled
   Jan  1 00:36:47 init: /etc/spwd.db: No such file or directory
   Enter full pathname of shell or RETURN for /bin/sh: <Enter>
   

4. Mount the virtual file systems:

   NOTE: to go to multi-user operation, exit the single-user shell (with ^D)
   # cd /packages
   # ./mount.jbase
   Mounted jbase package on /dev/vn1...
   # ./mount.jkernel
   Mounted jkernel package on /dev/vn2...
   # ./mount.jroute
   Mounted jroute package on /dev/vn3...
   

5. Enter recovery mode:

   # /usr/libexec/ui/recovery-mode
   

6. Enter configuration mode, and either delete or change the root authentication password:

   root> configure 
   Entering configuration mode
   [edit]
   
   root# delete system root-authentication 
   

7. Commit the changes, and exit configuration mode:

    [edit]
   root # commit 
   commit complete
   
   [edit]
   root@router# exit 
   
   Exiting configuration mode
   root@router> exit 
   

8. Exit recovery mode and enter ?y? when prompted to reboot the system:

   Reboot the system? [y/n] y
   Terminated
   

9. The system now reboots and changes made to root authentication are activated.