Cisco SG300-28 Default Password

SG300-28 default password and other default login and support info

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on December 9, 2022

The Cisco SG300-28 switch has the default password of cisco. The password is case-sensitive, so it must be entered that exact way—don't use capital letters. Along with this password, like most Cisco devices, this one uses the default username of cisco to log in with administrative privileges.

To access this switch for administrative purposes, use the default IP address 192.168.1.254. Enter it into a web browser's navigation bar where URLs go.

Default passwords are sometimes different for certain hardware or firmware versions, but what's described above should work for any SG300-28 switch. This information is also valid for other Cisco SG300 switches, like the SG300-10, SG300-10MP, SG300-10P, SG300-20, SG300-28P, and SG300-52.

Cisco username and password screen on a computer screen
Lifewire 

What to Do If the Cisco SG300 Default Username or Password Doesn't Work

It's important to secure any managed network hardware by changing the default login information. If you don't, anyone with network access can be granted administrator rights. If you took this step, the above information won't work.

However, if you don't remember what you changed the password to, reset it to the factory defaults to restore the username and password to cisco.

Resetting and restarting don't mean the same thing. The former restores the username and password, while the latter shuts down the switch and then starts it back up.

You need physical access to the switch to reset it. Here's how it's done:

  1. Make sure the device is powered on and then turn it to its backside so you can see the cables.

  2. Disconnect the switch from the network.

  3. Find the small hole on the back (the Reset button) and press and hold it for 5 to 10 seconds with something pointed, like a paperclip or pin.

  4. Unplug the power cable from the switch for a few seconds and then reattach it.

  5. Provide enough time for it to fully turn back on—a few minutes at most.

  6. Reconnect the switch to the network.

  7. Log in to it at http://192.168.1.254 using cisco as both the username and password.

  8. Change the default switch password to something more secure. See these examples of a strong password if you're not sure how to make one.

    If you struggle to remember complex passwords, consider storing this one in a password manager.

  9. If necessary, reconfigure any custom settings that were previously stored on the switch.

What to Do If You Can't Access the SG300-28 Switch

If 192.168.1.254 isn't the IP address, it means that someone changed it to something else, similar to how you change the username and password.

For most networks, if your switch's default IP address was changed, the new one can be determined using tracert, a command available from the Command Prompt in Windows. See How to Identify Network Hardware IP Addresses on a Local Network if you need help using that command to find the SG300-28 IP.

Resetting the switch restores the username and password and also the default IP address. If you can't access the switch using its IP address after a full reset, there's probably an issue with its physical connection. Trace the device's cables from the switch outward to find missing connections or bad wires.

Cisco SG300-28 Manual and Firmware Download Links

The SG300-28 Software Download page is where you can get the latest firmware and managed switch MIB downloads. All the firmware files use the ROS file extension, but depending on the version you download, you might get it in a ZIP archive that you have to open before finding the firmware file.

Switches that are available as different hardware versions usually use unique firmware, making it important to download the right one for your device. The Cisco SG300-28 switch, however, doesn't have other hardware versions, so the firmware you find through the link above is the same firmware for all SG300-28 switches.

This Cisco SG300-28 Quick Start Guide is a direct link to the PDF file that can help you set up your switch. Use a free PDF reader to open it, like Sumatra PDF, if you use Windows.

Was this page helpful?