Wipe UCS Config / Factory Reset from Bootloader

jkirkdenaliai · ‎09-12-2023

Hello,

I have a UCS 6200 that is in a bad configuration state. It needs to be wiped.
Both FI's boot as secondary and don't permit login.
I'd like to just wipe the configuration but all of the documentation I've found requires access to nxos.
Is there a pre-boot process I can use to wipe the whole configuration?

Thanks!

josoneal · ‎09-13-2023

Hello,

Here is a community forum on how to rebuild the Fabric Interconnect software: https://community.cisco.com/t5/data-center-and-cloud-knowledge-base/how-to-recover-from-a-software-failure-on-the-6120-fabric/ta-p/3121751

NOTE: To boot to the loader prompt, after power cycling the FI, start pressing "Ctrl+L". Eventually it should break into the loader prompt. Next you have to boot the kickstart image. Use the contextual help by entering "help boot". It will show you the proper syntax.

Regards,

jkirkdenaliai · ‎09-13-2023

Thank you for the assist, however, I don't have a corrupt or missing system image. I need to wipe the startup configuration and cluster identity so I can start the Out of Box experience over.

josoneal · ‎09-14-2023

Hello,

Sorry about that, I actually thought instructions I sent to you had included the 'init system' command, this command will wipe the FI.

I would suggest, ff you don't have the admin password, you can just reset that password to allow you log in access to UCSM CLI. Once you log in, you can do a force cluster lead to make 1 FI primary. If you don't want to go down the cluster lead route, you can do and erase config once you have CLI login access.

Procedures to reset password: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/Admin-Management/4-2/b_Cisco_UCS_Admin_Mgmt_Guide_4-2/m_password_management.html#task_99C97C8259C1418783FC43F98575BF30

If you want to continue down the Fabric Interconnect reformat route, you can follow these procedures: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ts/guide/UCSTroubleshooting/UCSTroubleshooting_chapter_01010.html

Please beware you will need the Kickstart, System, and Manager files on an scp/ftp/ftpt server. You can extract those files from the infrastructure firmware file.

Regards,

Riaan van Niekerk · ‎12-17-2023

“I would suggest, if you don't have the admin password, you can just reset that password to allow you log in access to UCSM CLI. Once you log in, you can do a force cluster lead to make 1 FI primary.“

I was unable to finds steps to reset the admin password if you do not have the admin password in any of the links you provided. Am I missing something? Is there any way to erase the domain configuration, e.g. while you are in the switch(boot) or start/bash boot modes, or is a wipe (init system) and rebuild of the FI to clear the configuration?

As a workaround, I found https://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/gui/config/guide/141/UCSM_GUI_Configuration_Guide_141_chapter44.html to reset the admin password via loader> and then the switch(boot) mode, after which I assume it should be possible to boot into system image, boot into UCSM image (if it does not boot automatically) log in locally to UCSM cli and run erase config.

According to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/servers-unified-computing/ucs-6400-series-fabric-interconnects/220718-troubleshoot-and-recover-6400-series-fab.html the loader> boot parameter needs to be set to prevent the boot process from booting directly into the UCSM image after the system image was loaded. Not sure if this is with new FIs only, or with older FIs and newer firmware:

cmdline recoverymode=1