Cisco CATALYST2960

1. Start the console session.

   Plug in serial cable to console port of device from PC COM1 port
   Open PuTTY and select "Serial" connection type, leave baud rate (Speed) and other settings as default.

2. Access the pre-boot switch command line interface.

   Press and hold down the Mode button.

   

   Plug power into device and if a power button exists, turn it on.

   Xmodem file system is available. The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

   After 15+ seconds release the Mode button.

   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

   You should be presented with the switch:  prompt.

3. Initialise Flash and list existing files.

   Type the flash_init command:

   switch: flash_init Initializing Flash... mifs[2]: 0 files, 1 directories mifs[2]: Total bytes : 3870720 mifs[2]: Bytes used : 1024 mifs[2]: Bytes available : 3869696 mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds. mifs[3]: 541 files, 19 directories mifs[3]: Total bytes : 27998208 mifs[3]: Bytes used : 11216896 mifs[3]: Bytes available : 16781312 mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 7 seconds. ...done Initializing Flash.

   Type the dir flash: command:

   switch: dir flash: Directory of flash:/ 2 -rwx 676 <date> vlan.dat 3 -rwx 4993 <date> config.text 4 -rwx 3096 <date> multiple-fs 5 -rwx 3010 <date> private-config.text 6 drwx 512 <date> c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-50.SE5 16781312 bytes available (11216896 bytes used)

   In the above example, c2960-lanlitek9-mz.122-50.SE5 is a directory containing the OS image so is not to be deleted.

4. Delete configuration files and reboot.

   Use the del command on all data-bearing files, confirming each with y:

   switch: del flash:vlan.dat Are you sure you want to delete "flash:vlan.dat" (y/n)?y File "flash:vlan.dat" deleted switch: del flash:private-config.text Are you sure you want to delete "flash:private-config.text" (y/n)?y File "flash:private-config.text" deleted switch: del flash:config.text Are you sure you want to delete "flash:config.text" (y/n)?y File "flash:config.text" deleted switch: del flash:multiple-fs Are you sure you want to delete "flash:multiple-fs" (y/n)?y File "flash:multiple-fs" deleted

   Type the boot command:

   switch: boot

   Further output may take you to a prompt to terminate autoinstall, respond with y

   *Mar 1 00:00:58.879: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted -- Cisco IOS Software, C2960 Software (C2960-LANLITEK9-M), Version 12.2(50)SE5, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Copyright (c) 1986-2010 by Cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Tue 28-Sep-10 13:44 by prod_rel_team Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]: y

5. Check settings are either gone or reset to factory defaults.

   Type n when prompted to enter the initial configuration dialog:

   --- 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]: n

   Type the enable command for elevated privileges:

   Switch>enable

   Type the erase startup-config command and confirm with y then type the show vlan command:

   Switch#erase startup-config Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]y[OK] Erase of nvram: complete Switch# *Mar 1 00:03:39.303: %SYS-7-NV_BLOCK_INIT: Initialized the geometry of nvram Switch#show vlan VLAN Name Status Ports ---- -------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------- 1 default active Fa0/1, Fa0/2, Fa0/3, Fa0/4 Fa0/5, Fa0/6, Fa0/7, Fa0/8 Fa0/9, Fa0/10, Fa0/11, Fa0/12 Fa0/13, Fa0/14, Fa0/15, Fa0/16 Fa0/17, Fa0/18, Fa0/19, Fa0/20 Fa0/21, Fa0/22, Fa0/23, Fa0/24 Gi0/1, Gi0/2 1002 fddi-default act/unsup 1003 token-ring-default act/unsup 1004 fddinet-default act/unsup 1005 trnet-default act/unsup VLAN Type SAID MTU Parent RingNo BridgeNo Stp BrdgMode Trans1 Trans2 ---- ----- ---------- ----- ------ ------ -------- ---- -------- ------ ------ 1 enet 100001 1500 - - - - - 0 0 1002 fddi 101002 1500 - - - - - 0 0 1003 tr 101003 1500 - - - - - 0 0 1004 fdnet 101004 1500 - - - ieee - 0 0 1005 trnet 101005 1500 - - - ibm - 0 0 Primary Secondary Type Ports ------- --------- ----------------- ------------------------------------------

6. Copy all the output from the session into your records.

   Right-click PuTTY's titlebar, from that dropdown menu click on "Copy All to Clipboard"
   Open the file of record certifying the deconfiguration of this device and use CTRL V to paste all the output from PuTTY into that file. Formatting the text with a fixed-width font helps it look more readable.

7. End the session.

   Close PuTTy.