Technical Tip: Reset a lost admin password in FortiDeceptor

Description

This article describes how to reset the admin password if the password has been lost.

Scope

All supported models of FortiDeceptor.

Solution

There is a special administrator account named 'maintainer' that the user can log into the CLI with and reset the admin password. Follow the steps below:

For a physical device, it is required to have a console cable first and connect it directly to the box.
Then configure the COM port with the below configuration:

For a virtual appliance, it is just required to open VM appliance console from the hypervisor.

To reset the admin password, follow these steps:

• Open the console of the FortiDeceptor VM from the hypervisor or Putty for a physical appliance and connect it with console cable.
• Reboot the device.
• After it is up and the login prompt is visible, enter the following:
  • Username: maintainer
  • Password: The password is bcpb + the serial number of the appliance. The letters of the serial number must be in uppercase with no spaces.
  • Example: bcpbFDCVMS1234567895
• Run the following command:

admin-pwd-reset new password

Note: An administrator has 60 seconds to complete this login using the CLI command.