How to restart Cisco switch physically

Kuldeep singh · ‎03-12-2013

Hello Experts,

I know only one method to restart Cisco switch through Telent using command " RELOAD".

How can we restart Cisco 2960/3560 switch phyically....

can i use mode button to restart cisco switch ?

KS

turnera · ‎03-12-2013

If you hold down the mode switch it will reload the switch but it will also erase the configuration in the process as well. Not sure that is what you want to do.

Other than the reload command, a power reset(unplug from power & plug back in) will work as well but it is a bit more drastic selection.

Kuldeep singh · ‎03-12-2013

If i hold down mode button then it will erase whole (startup + running) configuration......

You mean to say, after that i will need to reconfigure whole switch ???

But as per my knowledge Mode button will not erase configuration, just only

rename the configuration inside switch memory. we can reapply again using

Express mode in Hyperterminal.

Plz correct me if iam wrong....

InayathUlla Sharieff · ‎03-12-2013

Hi Kuldeep,

The Mode button will reset all the configuration of the device. Please find the details below:

Resetting the Switch

Why you might want to reset the switch:

•You installed the switch in your network and cannot connect to it because you assigned the wrong IP address.

•You want to clear all configuration from the switch and assign a new IP address.

•You are trying to enter Express Setup mode, and the switch LEDs start blinking when you press the Mode button, which means that the switch is already configured with IP information.

Caution Resetting the switch deletes the configuration and reboots the switch.

To reset the switch, press and hold the Mode button. The switch LEDs begin blinking after about 3 seconds. Continue holding down the Mode button. The LEDs stop blinking after 7 more seconds, and then the switch reboots.

The switch now behaves like an unconfigured switch. You can enter the switch IP information by using Express Setup as described in the "Running Express Setup" section.

HTH

Regards

Inayath

*Plz rate the usefull posts.

Kuldeep singh · ‎03-13-2013

Hello Sharieff,

I am bit confused with holding timing of MODE button. you are saying that if i press

HOLD button it will erase whole configuration (startup + Running) configuration and

make it as unmanagable switch..

But in other forums, Experts says that

1. it is only for ROMMON mode only and it will not erase any configuration.

OR

2. In case of password recovery, we do not need to count number of seconds to hold

MODE button as Leo Stated at here https://supportforums.cisco.com/message/3877675#3877675

If MODE button erases all configuration then what i will do with password recovery without

any switch configuration (Running + Startup). Plz solve my long-term problem with exact answers........

KS

InayathUlla Sharieff · ‎03-13-2013

Hi Kuldeep,

Everything is explain in the link :

https://supportforums.cisco.com/message/3877675#3877675

What is confusing you in that. Please reasd the link and cisco documentation suggested over there and get back to us if you still have any issues. We would be glad to help you further.

Regards

Inayath.

Kuldeep singh · ‎03-13-2013

Hello Sharieff,

Here i want to know only about that how long the MODE button is pressed in case of

1. Password recovery so that i can enter in ROMMON

2. Reset switch i.e erase configuration

As you said, MODE button erases all configuration that means if i press MODE button till

15 seconds for password recovery then it willl erase all configuration ( startup + running).

so this process is worthless to me.

KS

Giuseppe Larosa · ‎03-13-2013

Hello Kuldeep,

if you want to perform an hardware based restart the best way is to unplug the power cable.

In this way you don't need to deal with how long the mode button is pressed and the switch will restart with its own configuration file.

Hope to help

Giuseppe

Kuldeep singh · ‎03-13-2013

Thanks Giuseppe,

Restart the switch physically-----------it is clear to me.

But i have another question about Password recovery of cisco 2960/3560.

Actually password recovery process requires hold down MODE button till 15 seconds.

Here i am confused because Someone says that hold down MODE button erases

whole (Startup + Running) configuration and

Someone says that it will not erase configuration,Mode button is only sending

the switch in ROMMON and nothing else.

which one is correct ????

KS

InayathUlla Sharieff · ‎03-13-2013

Hi Kuldeep,

Please find answer below

1- Reset switch i.e erase configuration - exact 8-10 Seconds.

%EXPRESS_SETUP-6-CONFIG_IS_RESET: The configuration is reset and the

system will now reboot

This message is displayed when you continue to hold the

mode button for approximately 10 seconds.

And about the deletion of the config, CCO says;

--------

Caution? If you continue to hold the button for 8 more seconds,

the switch configuration is deleted, and the switch reloads.

And then it reloads with the old config located in flash under the file

name "config.text.renamed" and a blank configuration asking for the

initial configuration dialog.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2940/software/release/12.1_13_ay/command/reference/cli2.pdf)

=============================================================================

2- Password recovery - Appox 15 Seconds.(http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/products_password_recovery09186a0080094184.shtml)

Method:
Unplug the power cable.
Power the switch and bring it to the switch: prompt:
For 2900XL, 3500XL, 2940, 2950, 2960, 2970, 3550, 3560, and 3750 series switches, do this:
Hold down the mode button located on the left side of the front panel, while you reconnect
the power cable to the switch.

 
Catalyst Switch Series     LED Behavior and Mode Button Release Action        
3560, 3750     Release the Mode button after approximately 15 seconds when the SYST LED turns
solid green. When you release the Mode button, the SYST LED blinks green.        
           
Note: LED position may vary slightly depending on the model.
Issue the flash_init command.
switch: flash_init
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 143 files, 4 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 3612672
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 2729472
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 883200
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 86 seconds
....done Initializing Flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs:) installed, fsid: 3
Parameter Block Filesystem (pb:) installed, fsid: 4
switch:

!--- This output is from a 2900XL switch. Output from 
!--- other switches will vary slightly.

Issue the load_helper command.
switch: load_helper
switch:
Issue the dir flash: command.
Note: Make sure to type a colon ":" after the dir flash.
The switch file system is displayed:
switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/
2    -rwx  1803357                  c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin

!--- This is the current version of software.

4    -rwx  1131                     config.text

!--- This is the configuration file.

5    -rwx  109                      info
6    -rwx  389                      env_vars
7    drwx  640                      html
18   -rwx  109                      info.ver
403968 bytes available (3208704 bytes used)
switch:

!--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from 
!--- other switches will vary slightly.

Type rename flash:config.text flash:config.old to rename the configuration file.
switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.old
switch:

!--- The config.text file contains the password 
!--- definition.

Issue the boot command to boot the system.
switch: boot
Loading "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin"...###############################
################################################################################
######################################################################
File "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry po
int: 0x3000
executing...

!--- Output suppressed.
!--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from other switches 
!--- will vary slightly.

Enter "n" at the prompt to abort the initial configuration dialog.
--- System Configuration Dialog ---
At any point you may enter a question mark '?' for help.
Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at any prompt.
Default settings are in square brackets '[]'.
Continue with configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n 

!--- Type "n" for no.

Press RETURN to get started.

!--- Press Return or Enter.

Switch>

!--- The Switch> prompt is displayed.

At the switch prompt, type en to enter enable mode.
Switch>en
Switch#
Type rename flash:config.old flash:config.text to rename the configuration file with its
original name.
Switch#rename flash:config.old flash:config.text
Destination filename [config.text] 

!--- Press Return or Enter.

Switch#
Copy the configuration file into memory.
Switch#copy flash:config.text system:running-config
Destination filename [running-config]? 

!--- Press Return or Enter.

1131 bytes copied in 0.760 secs
Sw1#
The configuration file is now reloaded.
Overwrite the current passwords that you do not know. Choose a strong password with at
least one capital letter, one number, and one special character.
Note: Overwrite the passwords which are necessary. You need not overwrite all of the
mentioned passwords.
Sw1# conf t


!--- To overwrite existing secret password

Sw1(config)#enable secret 



!--- To overwrite existing enable password

Sw1(config)#enable password 



!--- To overwrite existing vty password

Sw1(config)#line vty 0 15
Sw1(config-line)#password 

Sw1(config-line)#login


!--- To overwrite existing console password

Sw1(config-line)#line con 0
Sw1(config-line)#password 

Write the running configuration to the configuration file with the write memory command.
Sw1#write memory
Building configuration...
[OK]
Sw1#

HTH

Regards

Inayath

*Plz rate the usefull posts.

chr6is000 · ‎03-12-2013

i may not be of much help but you dont have to reconfigure the starting confg. just back-up the starting confg to an tftp, hold the mode button and copy tftp start, to put the file back.

i think that would work all you have to do if im thinking correctly is re-set the ip address so the tftp server knows where to send the startup-confg file.

if no help sorry.

chr6is000 · ‎03-13-2013

why not just back-up the configuration and hold the button and see what happen. problem solved. question answered.

are yo able to back-up ? if it erases the config just reinstall if it doesnt than you know.