How do I reset a 3500xl switch?

[jlpalmero]

Hi,

I just got a used 3500xl switch at a going out of business sale "as is" and would like to use it in my small office (10 connections). The problem is that I don't know the static IP and the switch appears to be password protected.

I have a basic understanding of networking and switch configuration but not sure how to reset it to factory state.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[sunil.kumar.gautam]

Hi Palmero,

Hold down the mode button located on the left side of the front panel, while you reconnect the power cable to the switch-

You will see the following message on the console-

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the flash file system to finish

loading the operating system software:

flash_init

load_helper

boot

switch:Issue the flash_init command.

1. Issue the following 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.

2. Issue the second 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:

3.

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.

[JORGE RODRIGUEZ]

Since the switch is password protected and you probably do not need any of its

current configurations you need to rename its current config to

something else and start a new fresh config file.

You will need a console cable and any hyperterminal for perform this task.

Read the link bellow which is for password recovery for your model, however you will

not do password recovery but instead rename the current config to config.old

and start new config, once you rename the config issue "reload" the

switch will start a new factory deafult config.

At step 9 ( Enter "n" at the prompt to abort the initial configuration dialog )

you will choose "y"

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/474/pswdrec_2900xl.html

[ney25]

Hi ,

What if when booting the flash and we have this error msg ?

switch: boot flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin

Loading "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin"...flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin: magic number mismatch: bad mzip file

i have used xmodem to recovery even i have set the boot system path as well, but after rebooted the switch is totally can not be botted anymore .

any suggestion ??

your reply will be highly appreciated.

regards,

Jackal

[JORGE RODRIGUEZ]

Hi Jackal, it seems the IOS somehow is currupted, have you tried deleting the IOS from switch: and re-staring a new Xmodem copy ? making sure that the IOS you are downloading is also a good ios image.

[ney25]

Hi Jorge,

yes, i have deleted all IOS and reload the IOS agian. will, nvm let me try another version of IOS.

thanks a lot.

regards,

Jackal

[JORGE RODRIGUEZ]

When you deleted it did the ios loaded or not, what 3500xl model do you have?

[ney25]

Hi Jorge,

problem solved due to the IOS corrupted.

thanks .

[jlpalmero]

I was able to reset the switch and now have it working. Thanks for all the help.

I have a question regarding the lights for each port. With nothing connected, when I press the status button ports 1-24 light up solid green, but ports 25-45 are solid amber, ports 46, 47 and 48 are off.

Do the amber ports need to be enabled manually? What about the ones with no light?

Thanks.