If Any CISCO Device not saving the config:
The Solution:
# config ternminal
no setup express
service compress-config
config-register 2102
Boot into rommon (rommon is when you interrupt the boot loader and get to the Switch prompt and run the flash_init command) and remove the boot variable that is set to ignore the startup config.
Boot into ROMMON mode
Connect to the console of the switch
Power off the switch
While holding the MODE button down, restore power to the switch
Keep pressing the MODE button and watch the console output
After approx. 10-15 seconds, the switch should end up at the ROMMON/boot loader switch: prompt
Release the MODE button
Type command flash_init
Type command set
Look for if SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG bit is set to 1
Type command unset SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG
Reload the switch
Example set output:
ABNORMAL_RESET_COUNT=0
ASIC_PCI_RESET=1
BOOT=flash:packages.conf
BOOT_LOADER_UPGRADE_DISABLE=1
BSI=0
CFG_MODEL_NUM=WS-C3850-48P-S
CLEI_CODE_NUMBER=IPM8E00ARB
CSR_PCIERST_DISCONNECTED=yes
DC_COPY=yes
D_STACK_DOMAIN_NUM=1
ECI_CODE_NUMBER=468919
LICENSE_BOOT_LEVEL=ipbasek9,all:ngwc;
MAC_ADDR=00:EB:D5:94:72:80
MANUAL_BOOT=no
MODEL_NUM=WS-C3850-48P
MODEL_REVISION_NUM=AA0
MOTHERBOARD_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-15800-07
MOTHERBOARD_REVISION_NUM=B0
MOTHERBOARD_SERIAL_NUM=FOC202114XB
POE1_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-16439-01
POE1_REVISION_NUM=A0
POE1_SERIAL_NUM=FOC202071F2
POE2_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-16439-01
POE2_REVISION_NUM=A0
POE2_SERIAL_NUM=FOC202071CT
RANDOM_NUM=966545832
RECOVERY_BUNDLE=sda9:cat3k_caa-recovery.bin
STKPWR_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-11956-08
STKPWR_REVISION_NUM=B0
STKPWR_SERIAL_NUM=FOC20216XC4
SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1 <<<<<<< This Boot variable means every time the
SWITCH_NUMBER=1 switch reboots to ignore the config in NVRAM
SYSTEM_SERIAL_NUM=FCW2021C1US
TAN_NUM=800-43041-02
TAN_REVISION_NUMBER=C0
TEMPLATE=advanced
TERMLINES=0
USB_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-16576-01
USB_REVISION_NUM=A0
USB_SERIAL_NUM=FOC20212NWT
VERSION_ID=V06
unset SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1 <<<<<<<<<< unset the bootvar and reload
Alternatively, according to Cisco password recovery documentation, you may also be able to run the command SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=0
