---
title: "VIP Appliance Password Reset"
slug: "vip-password-reset-1"
updated: 2025-09-30T11:45:00Z
published: 2025-12-31T14:43:31Z
canonical: "docs.telosalliance.com/vip-password-reset-1"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.telosalliance.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# VIP Appliance Password Reset

## Scope

This document explains how to reset the admin/ssh user account password on an VIP Appliance.

## Prerequisites

- An imaging tool like [Etcher](https://etcher.balena.io/)
- A 2 GB or larger USB Drive that can be overwritten
- Physical Access to the VIP Appliance

## How to reset the password

1. Download the password reset utility image
2. Plug the USB Drive into the computer
3. Open Etcher
4. Click Select the `Flash From File option`
5. Select the password reset utility from the menu
6. Click Select the `Select Target` option
7. Select the USB drive you want to image
8. Click the `Flash!` button
9. When the flashing process is complete, eject the USB Drive from the PC
10. Plug the USB Drive into the VIP Appliance
11. Reboot the VIP Appliance

> *NOTE: you can either press the power button on the front to reboot, or physically remove and reinsert the power cable.*
12. As VIP Appliance boots press `F11` key on the keyboard until the `boot menu` appears.
13. Use the arrow keys to select the `Enter Setup`
14. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
15. Use the arrow keys to highlight the `boot` option
16. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
17. Arrow down to `Boot option 2`
18. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
19. In the menu that appears find the USB Drive with the password reset utility. Use the arrow keys to highlight this drive and press <kbd>enter</kbd> key.
20. Use the arrow keys to highlight `Save &amp; Exit`
21. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
22. Highlight the `Save and Reset` option
23. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
24. The VIP Appliance will now reboot. Press `F11` to open the boot menu.
25. When the boot menu appears use the arrows keys to select USB Drive you connected to the system.
26. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
27. The reset utiltiy will start. Use arrow keys to select the `Reset admin user password`, and press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key.
28. A confirmation stating the username will be reset to `admin` and password will be reset to `admin` will appear. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key to confirm the password reset.
29. A confirmation message stating `Password Reset Power off and remove this password reset USB` will appear. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key to continue.
30. This will return to menu page. Use the arrow key to select `Poweroff` option.
31. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
32. Power on the server by pressing the power button on the front.
33. After the VIP Appliance boots press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key to get the login prompt.
34. Type the username `admin`
35. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
36. Type the password `admin`
37. Follow the prompts to create a new password.
38. Once a new password is set, type the command `sudo reboot now`
39. As VIP Appliance boots press `F11` key on the keyboard until the boot menu appears.
40. Use the arrow keys to select the `Enter Setup`
41. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
42. Use the arrow keys to highlight the `boot` option
43. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
44. Arrow down to `Boot option 2`
45. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
46. In the menu that appears find `disable` Option. Use the arrow keys to highlight the `disable` option and press <kbd>enter</kbd> key.
47. Use the arrow keys to highlight `Save &amp; Exit`
48. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
49. Highlight the `Save and Reset` option
50. Press the <kbd>enter</kbd> key
51. The VIP Appliance will reboot and the password has been fully reset.