Seem to be in a bit of a loop. Unable to login, unable to flash_init

[mark.lilly@oceanagold.com]

I seem to have got myself in a bit of a pickle while configuring a switch.

So I ended up just issuing a reset command thinking I could start over... Oops

After the reboot; I could no longer login at all. (Bad username and password) Also the switch still has the hostname I gave it. I thought this would have been removed after the reset???

So, I restart it holding down the mode button to go to ROMON mode so I can reset the password however its not accepting flash_init

It seems I have few command in this mode as shown in this output:

switch: version

System Bootstrap, Version 17.12.1r [FC3], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)
Compiled Mon 07/10/2023 04:38:53 by rel

Current ROMMON image : Primary
C9200L-24P-4G platform with 2097152 Kbytes of main memory

switch:
switch: flash_init
Error: command 'flash_init' not found. Use 'help' to list commands.
switch: help
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
arp Dump or Clear ARP Table
boot Load and boot an executable image
cat Display text content from a file
copy Copy a file
dir List filesystems or a directory on a filesystem path
help List command information
history Show command history
idprom Show idprom data
ping Ping use ICMP protocol to get an ICMP ECHO_RESPONSE from host
ping6 Ping use ICMP protocol to get an ICMP ECHO_RESPONSE from host
reset Reset entire system
set Set an environment variable value
unset Unsets an environment variable
version Show sboot version and runtime info

-------------------------------

Hers the dir contents of flash:

switch: dir flash:

Attributes Size Name
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-rw-r--r-- 336 lateshutdown.log
-rw-r--r-- 2056 vlan.dat
drwxrwxrwx 4096 SHARED-IOX
-rwxr-xr-x 0 mode_event_log
drwxrwxrwx 4096 .prst_sync
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .installer
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .rollback_timer
drwxr-xr-x 4096 core
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .USWAP
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .CRFT
-rw-r--r-- 999 bootloader_evt_handle.log
drwxrwxrwx 4096 gs_script
drwxr-xr-x 4096 tech_support
drwxr-xr-x 4096 dc_profile_dir
drwxr-xr-x 4096 EDScisco
-rw-r--r-- 2162 boothelper.log
-rw-r--r-- 137940 memleak.tcl
drwxr-xr-x 4096 Tbot
drwxr-xr-x 4096 sys_report
drwxr-xr-x 4096 fp_cc_crash
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .rommon_sync
lrwxrwxrwx 13 NVRAM -> /flash1/NVRAM
-rw-r--r-- 1338 DigiCertGlobalRootCA.ca
-rw-r--r-- 1924 ISRGRootX1CrossSignDST.ca
-rw-r--r-- 1606 StarfieldServicesRootCA.ca
-rw-r--r-- 1261 Baltimore.ca
drwxr-xr-x 4096 pcap
-rw-r--r-- 2162 boothelper.log.old
drwxr-xr-x 4096 .dbpersist
-rw-r--r-- 15325 rdope_out.txt
-rw-r--r-- 89 rdope.log
drwxr-xr-x 4096 onep
drwxr-xr-x 4096 pnp-info
drwxr-xr-x 4096 license_evlog
-rw------- 0 dope_hist
-rw-r--r-- 2097152 nvram_config
-rw-r--r-- 2097152 nvram_config_bkup
drwxr-xr-x 4096 pnp-tech
-rw-rw-rw- 4917 packages.conf
-rw-rw-rw- 406425600 cat9k_lite-rpbase.17.09.04a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw- 44255443 cat9k_lite-rpboot.17.09.04a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw- 5636096 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.09.04a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw- 14860288 cat9k_lite-webui.17.09.04a.SPA.pkg

Any help would be appreciated!

[shambhu.kumar]

Step 1
Ignore the startup configuration with the following command:

Switch: SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1

Step 2
Boot the switch with the packages.conf file from flash.

Switch: boot flash:packages.conf

Step 3
Terminate the initial configuration dialog by answering No.

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: No

Step 4
At the switch prompt, enter privileged EXEC mode.

Switch> enable
Switch#

Step 5
Copy the startup configuration to running configuration.

Switch# copy startup-config running-config Destination filename [running-config]?

Press Return in response to the confirmation prompts. The configuration file is now reloaded, and you can change the password.
Step 6
Enter global configuration mode and change the enable password.

Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)#

Step 7
Write the running configuration to the startup configuration file.

Switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config

Step 8
Confirm that manual boot mode is enabled.

Switch# show boot

BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf;
Manual Boot = yes
Enable Break = yes

Step 9
Reload the device.

Switch# reload

Step 10
Boot the device with the packages.conf file from flash.

Switch: boot flash:packages.conf

Step 11
After the device boots up, disable manual boot on the device.

Switch(config)# no boot manual

[balaji.bandi · Accepted solution]

you do not need in the later version of IOS XE and New cat 9300 

Below steps work for me all time :

Cat 9300 Password recovery : (if you not added username or you locked yourself)

Power cycle the switch by removing the power cord from switch. Press Mode button. Hold the button till you see switch:

Switch:

Add the following variables.

Switch: SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1 (this should be CAPS, Lower one ignores)

Then boot the switch.

Switch: boot

Once the switch has booted you can copy the saved config back into the running config.

Switch# copy start running

Next set your password(s). Finally we want to remove the variables we set while in Boot Loader.

Switch# no system ignore startupconfig switch all

Save your new config.

Switch# copy runn start

Switch# reload

[Leo Laohoo]

Post the complete output to the command "set".