After powering down or removing your Cisco C3850 series switch you may want to reset it to defaults especially if you plan to sell or decommission as some cases some companies will want to resell your hardware or may end in the hands of someone who may want your config off your router.
I can’t say this doesn’t happen but there maybe a case where you have lost the password or want to start from scratch. so without delay here are the steps you need to get your switch back to defaults.
The steps
- Power down your C3850 series switch (Pull the plug!)
- Connect a console cable so you can monitor the boot of the switch (very handy if you can’t see the front to see the pretty lights)
- Press and hold the Mode button which can be found to the front left hand side of the Switch (this is a small black button next to the UID button which is also quite small)
- Power on the Switch (Plug it in..)
- Keep holding the Mode button this will need to be done for around a minute. on the console it’s usually after the MAC Address of the device is being shown is when you can take your finger off the button.
- Type
SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1into the console. - reboot the switch by typing boot and hitting enter. if it all works you should now be able to boot into the switch without any saved config known as
startup_configall you need to do if you want to remove your config is write the currentrunning_configwhich can be done by enteringenable, and typingwrorcopy run start. - And that is it you should have access to your switch with no running config.