Reset a Cisco 2960 Switch To Factory Default Settings

By | May 28, 2013
94 Comments

Flattening a switch before re-deployment is one of those simple tasks that I always find myself having lookup on the web, so I thought I’d save myself some time in future and document it here.

Step 1.

Connect up your console cable and power on the switch, whilst holding down the “mode” button:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This interrupts the boot process before the Flash file system can initialize, and after a short while (continue holding the “mode” button) you will see the following prompt:

Using driver version 1 for media type 1
Base ethernet MAC Address: 4c:30:2d:81:ef:80
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the
flash filesystem. The following commands will initialize
the flash filesystem, and finish loading the operating
system software:
flash_init
 boot
switch:

Step 2.

Initialize the flash file system with the command: flash_init

 

switch: flash_init
Initializing Flash...
mifs[2]: 10 files, 1 directories
mifs[2]: Total bytes : 1806336
mifs[2]: Bytes used : 612352
mifs[2]: Bytes available : 1193984
mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[3]: Total bytes : 3870720
mifs[3]: Bytes used : 1024
mifs[3]: Bytes available : 3869696
mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[4]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[4]: Total bytes : 258048
mifs[4]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[4]: Bytes available : 248832
mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[5]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[5]: Total bytes : 258048
mifs[5]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[5]: Bytes available : 248832
mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
 -- MORE --
mifs[6]: 566 files, 19 directories
mifs[6]: Total bytes : 57931776
mifs[6]: Bytes used : 28429312
mifs[6]: Bytes available : 29502464
mifs[6]: mifs fsck took 21 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.

Step 3.

Delete the config.text file from the flash directory:

switch: del flash:config.text
Are you sure you want to delete "flash:config.text" (y/n)?y
File "flash:config.text" deleted

Step 4.

Delete the vlan.dat file from the flash directory:

switch: del flash:vlan.dat
Are you sure you want to delete "vlan.dat" (y/n)?y
File "flash:vlan.dat" deleted

Step 5.

Reboot the switch and you’re done:

switch: boot
Loading "flash:c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-58.SE2.bin"...
--- System Configuration Dialog ---
Enable secret warning
----------------------------------
In order to access the device manager, an enable secret is required
If you enter the initial configuration dialog, you will be prompted for the enable secret
If you choose not to enter the intial configuration dialog, or if you exit setup without setting the enable secret,
please set an enable secret using the following CLI in configuration mode-
enable secret 0 <cleartext password>
----------------------------------
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
% Please answer 'yes' or 'no'.

 

Thanks for reading.

Rich

 

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94 thoughts on “Reset a Cisco 2960 Switch To Factory Default Settings”

  6. Judy

    Stopped a reboot to factory settings at 100% and 99%. Ugh! It’s a Gateway NetBook. Any ideas how to get it going again or finish the reboot progress?

    Reply ↓
    1. Rich Bibby Post author

      Thanks for the comment and link ! you’ve got some great content on your blog there. reminds me I’ve not blogged for a few months now, so I need to get back into it!
      Rich

      Reply ↓
      1. Jekope Turagadrau

        Hi,

        I want to use wireshark to monitor some calls but I don’t know how to config my cisco 2960 switch and I need help.

        Reply ↓

  10. Pingback: How to Reset Cisco Catalyst 2960 Back to Factory Defaults | Fatmin.com

  12. Mike

    I have three 2960x switches that used to be stacked. I did the above procedure on all three but they still have remnants of the old config (i.e. Stack 3 still shows up as ‘stack 3’ during boot up and the interfaces are all still labelled ‘GigabigEthernet 3/0/1-52’ and on stack 2 they are gigabitethernet 2/0/1, etc.).

    Reply ↓
    1. Mike

      To clarify, the switches are not connected to each other in any way… Here is what I see at the end of the initialization sequence on what used to be switch3:

      cisco WS-C2960X-48LPS-L (APM86XXX) processor (revision A0) with 524288K bytes of memory.
      Processor board ID FOC1744Y0P1
      Last reset from power-on
      1 Virtual Ethernet interface
      1 FastEthernet interface
      52 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
      The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

      512K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
      Base ethernet MAC Address : C0:7B:BC:4B:83:00
      Motherboard assembly number : 73-14191-03
      Power supply part number : 341-0528-01
      Motherboard serial number : FOC17430RHU
      Power supply serial number : DCB174171XR
      Model revision number : A0
      Motherboard revision number : A0
      Model number : WS-C2960X-48LPS-L
      Daughterboard assembly number : 73-14200-03
      Daughterboard serial number : FOC17426JNR
      System serial number : FOC1744Y0P1
      Top Assembly Part Number : 800-38006-01
      Top Assembly Revision Number : B0
      Version ID : V01
      CLEI Code Number : CMMLP00ARA
      Daughterboard revision number : A0
      Hardware Board Revision Number : 0x05

      Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image
      —— —– —– ———- ———-
      * 3 52 WS-C2960X-48LPS-L 15.0(2)EX3 C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M

      Press RETURN to get started!

      *Mar 1 00:00:26.067: Read env variable – LICENSE_BOOT_LEVEL =
      Mar 30 01:27:38.150: %IOS_LICENSE_IMAGE_APPLICATION-6-LICENSE_LEVEL: Module name = c2960x_lanbase Next reboot level = lanbase and License = lanbase
      Jan 11 23:40:18.275: in Switch 0. Cannot read pid from Flexstack module

      Jan 11 23:41:15.597: %STACKMGR-4-SWITCH_ADDED: Switch 3 has been ADDED to the stack
      Jan 11 23:41:17.160: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down
      Jan 11 23:41:17.160: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0, changed state to down
      Jan 11 23:41:18.540: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled for type vlan
      Jan 11 23:41:22.238: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from memory by console
      Jan 11 23:41:22.333: %STACKMGR-5-SWITCH_READY: Switch 3 is READY
      Jan 11 23:41:22.333: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 1 Switch 3 has changed to state DOWN
      Jan 11 23:41:22.333: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 3 has changed to state DOWN
      Jan 11 23:41:22.728: %STACKMGR-5-MASTER_READY: Master Switch 3 is READY
      Jan 11 23:41:22.826: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted —
      Cisco IOS Software, C2960X Software (C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.0(2)EX3, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
      Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
      Copyright (c) 1986-2013 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
      Compiled Wed 11-Sep-13 02:04 by prod_rel_team
      Jan 11 23:41:24.168: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface FastEthernet0, changed state to administratively down
      Jan 11 23:41:24.224: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Vlan1, changed state to administratively down
      Jan 11 23:41:27.037: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.% Generating 1024 bit RSA keys, keys will be non-exportable…
      [OK] (elapsed time was 1 seconds)
      [OK]
      Jan 11 23:41:39.729: %SSH-5-ENABLED: SSH 1.99 has been enabled
      Jan 11 23:41:39.816: %PKI-6-AUTOSAVE: Running configuration saved to NVRAM

      Reply ↓
      1. Rune Stoknes

        Hi Mike.
        This is just a simple question about renumbering the switch in global config mode:
        switch 3 renumber 1

        The switch will keep it’s stack number and use it if stacked again, provided the number is not being used in the new stack it is connected to.

        Brgds,
        Rune

        Reply ↓
  13. Keith

    Very nice, got rid of my vlans I created and all other commands from when I was doing my lab setup that were left there even after wr erase was done. Thank you for posting an easy to follow post.

    Reply ↓
  14. Nilar

    I have a problem .when I change the IOS from rommon I try to reload the switch but he stopped and not complet it,s boot as show.My switch is 2960S and I installed version is c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin.

    Using driver version 1 for media type 1
    Base ethernet MAC Address: dc:a5:f4:0f:4a:80
    Xmodem file system is available.
    The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
    Initializing Flash…
    mifs[2]: 0 files, 0 directories
    mifs[2]: Total bytes : 1806336
    mifs[2]: Bytes used : 512
    mifs[2]: Bytes available : 1805824
    mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 2 seconds.
    mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
    mifs[3]: Total bytes : 3870720
    mifs[3]: Bytes used : 1024
    mifs[3]: Bytes available : 3869696
    mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 2 seconds.
    mifs[4]: 5 files, 1 directories
    mifs[4]: Total bytes : 258048
    mifs[4]: Bytes used : 9216
    mifs[4]: Bytes available : 248832
    mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
    mifs[5]: 5 files, 1 directories
    mifs[5]: Total bytes : 258048
    mifs[5]: Bytes used : 9216
    mifs[5]: Bytes available : 248832
    mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
    mifs[6]: 7 files, 1 directories
    mifs[6]: Total bytes : 57931776
    mifs[6]: Bytes used : 23646208
    mifs[6]: Bytes available : 34285568
    mifs[6]: mifs fsck took 31 seconds.
    …done Initializing Flash.
    done.
    Loading “flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin”…@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
    File “flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin” uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x3000
    executing…

    How to exit this executing mode and how to troubleshooting.Please
    help me!!!!

    Regards
    Nilar

    Reply ↓
    1. Decreme

      as far as l know that is a normal procedure…why would you want to interrupt it?? what really do you want

      Reply ↓

  16. Pingback: Reset a Cisco 2960 Switch To Factory Default Settings | not the network | Mazurland

  17. Satham

    Dear,

    I have one cisco 2960x series switch, when i let power it up the switch is frequently resetting every 10 min once, what is the solution for this unknown issue

    Reply ↓
  18. hamed

    I have a problem .when I change the IOS 2960TTL from hiper terminal،page http not working.Please give me advice!!!!؟؟؟ Thank you

    Reply ↓
  23. lou

    Thanks Rich for increasing the little knowledge I have for resetting these type switches.

    Reply ↓
  28. Christian

    Thanks a lot!
    Maybe for interest:
    -it was running for me only with Serial (on PC) to Lan (blue console RJ45 on the left side below)
    (I wasn’t able to see the GUI while using the USB to MiniUSB-Console Cable on top of the switch)
    -I had pressing the little mode button for 35 seconds.

    Reply ↓

  30. Pingback: 2960x switch resetleme

  31. NetWorker

    Why drop into rommon to do this? Much simpler to do it from standard exec mode
    Switch#write erase
    Switch#delete vlan.dat

    Reply ↓
    1. Rich Bibby Post author

      the scenario I was thinking with this is when you don’t have the user id and password to log on in the first place
      Rich

      Reply ↓

  32. Pingback: Full Factory Reset of Cisco 2960 Switch: Adventure Time | whatnottodo

  33. Rafel

    Perfeito….
    Funcional normalmente apos os procedimentos..
    Valeu!!!!

    Reply ↓
  35. Frank Samos

    Does anyone know how to copy or backup the config.text file from switch: mode?

    Reply ↓
  37. Richard Anderson

    Brilliant! Thank-you for your post. I did notice that I needed to release the button after seeing the line about the password-recovery before the rest would appear.

    Reply ↓
  38. Sujeet

    I have tried factory reset to switch 2960x series but after completion console mode password not removed.
    It always ask to enter console password.
    I have done it by pressing mode button before switch powered on, then enter command flash_init , then try to delete config.text then says not present, then delete vlan.dat , it runs then enter command boot, after that it again ask console password.

    Kindly help….

    Reply ↓
  40. Ronald Bhen Madolin

    Can anybody help me with this?

    I already deleted the config.text and vlan.dat but it shows me this after I reboot.

    I want to configure with a clean slate installation.

    Jun 12 07:21:13.702: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down
    Jun 12 07:21:13.702: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0, changed state to down
    Jun 12 07:21:15.541: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled for type vlan
    Jun 12 07:21:38.134: %STACKMGR-5-SWITCH_READY: Switch 1 is READY
    Jun 12 07:21:38.134: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 1 Switch 1 has changed to state DOWN
    Jun 12 07:21:38.134: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 1 has changed to state DOWN
    Jun 12 07:21:38.455: %STACKMGR-5-MASTER_READY: Master Switch 1 is READY
    Jun 12 07:21:38.462: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted —
    Cisco IOS Software, C2960X Software (C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.2(2)E6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
    Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
    Copyright (c) 1986-2016 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
    Compiled Fri 16-Dec-16 21:27 by prod_rel_team
    Jun 12 07:21:40.451: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0, changed state to down
    Jun 12 07:21:41.454: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0, changed state to down
    Jun 12 07:21:42.548: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.

    Hope to hear from anyone.

    Best regards,

    Ronald

    Reply ↓
  42. Mike

    My buddy did give me an idea though, which didn’t really apply to me but would apply to someone not wanting to lose their config. Instead of deleting config.txt and vlan.dat, you could rename them, config.old and vlan.old, then when you log back into the switch, go into privileged mode, then rename those files back to their original config.txt and vlan.dat. Since you’re already in privileged mode, you can then get rid of or change the passwords and/or settings however you like. A good reason to make sure no one has physical access to your switch.

    Reply ↓
    1. Rich Bibby Post author

      Very good point. Never tried this. Thanks for the comment

      Reply ↓

  44. Pingback: Reset Cisco Switch to Default | IT: One Step At A Time

  48. Pingback: Setting up a Cisco 2960 Managed Switch – James Mutch Tech Support

    1. Rich Bibby Post author

      All good thanks Phil! Hope all is well with you too 🙂

      Reply ↓
  51. Jorge Gaitan

    it worked perfectly on this old 2960G that our client replaced and we are now using in the lab environment.
    thank you very much for this post.

    Reply ↓
  52. Daniel John Grazulis

    Tried this on two different Cisco 2960G switches. When the switches rebooted, it promptly asked for a password (fortunately, it was CISCO. At the user mode (switch>) it will not execute a flash_init command! It will not allow the deleting of the config.txt file either! I thought that these instruction would reset the switch to factory defaults? If memory serves me correct, Cisco switches DO NOT HAVE PASSWORDS!

    Reply ↓
  53. Daniel John Grazulis

    VERY disappointed that these instructions do not do what they clain to do!

    Reply ↓
  54. DrProbie

    Oh, these instructions do exactly what they claim to do, perfectly if I may say so…!!
    Good job…

    Reply ↓
  57. LJ

    Will this also delete the current startup/running config on the switch?

    Reply ↓
  58. Myrza

    It is working thank you very much.
    Best regards,
    Myrza

    Kazakhstan, Atyrau

    Reply ↓

  61. Pingback: How to Reset a Cisco 3650 Catalyst Switch - Learn-IT [Solve IT]

  63. John Wright

    What would you recommend if the config.text and vlan.dat or read-only after this process? Cant seem to figure out how to get around this?

    Reply ↓
    1. John Wright

      sorry should be if both are read-only. I can not remove either of them.

      Reply ↓
  66. Cordero

    Great tutorial. I tested the method on Packet Tracer and the only problem I stumbled upon was with the “del flash:” as the console said the command was invalid. Instead, I used the complete command “delete” along with the rest and it went perfectly.
    Thanks for the content!

    Reply ↓
  67. kibrom

    Thanks friend , what is exactly this procedure did ? how can i follow you? better than rommon mode!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply ↓
  68. Jaime Arturo Casado M

    What happens if I press and hold the Button Mode on a Stack Setup? Will it erase the Whole Stack or just the pressed Switch? Thanks

    Reply ↓
  71. THIERRY

    J’ai un commutateur Catalist Express 500 séries, je voulais réinitialiser au mode usine mais j’accède à l’interface par Putty malheureusement je n’ai pas la main sur le commutateur.

    Reply ↓
  73. sajjad

    Hi rich.
    I missed my login password
    I want to reset password without reboot the switch .Help me please

    Reply ↓

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