CISCO is a leading provider of networking equipment and solutions that enable seamless communication and data exchange across multiple devices and locations. One of the key components of their networking ecosystem is the switch, which acts as a central hub for connecting multiple devices and managing data traffic.

However, there are times when you may need to delete the configuration on a CISCO switch, either to fix an issue or to start from scratch with a fresh setup. In this article, we'll explore the steps to delete configuration on CISCO switch, including the various methods and considerations you need to keep in mind.

I. Solution 1:

Method 1: Using the Command Line Interface (CLI)

The CLI is the primary way of interacting with a CISCO switch and performing various configuration tasks, including deleting the existing settings. To delete configuration using the CLI, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect to the Switch

First, you need to establish a connection to the switch via the console or SSH. You'll need the administrative credentials to log in and access the CLI.

Step 2: Enter the Configuration Mode

Once you're logged in, enter the configuration mode by typing "enable" and pressing Enter. Then, type "configure terminal" to enter the configuration terminal mode.

Step 3: Identify the Configuration

Next, you need to identify the configuration elements you want to delete. You can do this by using the "show running-config" command to display all the current settings.

Step 4: Delete the Configuration Elements

With the configuration elements identified, you can now proceed to delete them one by one using the appropriate commands. For example, if you want to delete a VLAN, you can type "no vlan 10" (where 10 is the VLAN ID) and press Enter.

Step 5: Save the Changes

Once you've deleted all the necessary configuration elements, you'll need to save the changes to ensure they're implemented permanently. You can do this by typing "write memory" or "copy running-config startup-config" and pressing Enter.

Method 2: Using the Web Interface

If you prefer a graphical user interface (GUI) to interact with the switch, you can use the web interface to delete the configuration. Here's how:

Step 1: Access the Web Interface

Open your web browser and enter the IP address of the switch in the address bar. You'll need the administrative credentials to log in.

Step 2: Navigate to the Configuration Page

Once you're logged in, navigate to the Configuration page of the web interface. Depending on the switch model and firmware version, the layout and options may vary.

Step 3: Identify the Configuration Elements

Similar to the CLI method, you'll need to identify the configuration elements you want to delete. You can do this by browsing the various settings and submenus in the Configuration page.

Step 4: Delete the Configuration Elements

With the configuration elements identified, you can now proceed to delete them using the appropriate options or buttons. For example, if you want to delete a VLAN, you may need to select it from the VLAN list and click the delete button.

Step 5: Save the Changes

As with the CLI method, you'll need to save the changes you've made using the web interface. Depending on the web interface design, this step may be automatic or require you to click a separate "save" or "apply" button.

Important Considerations

While deleting configuration on a CISCO switch may seem straightforward, there are several considerations you need to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and safe process. Here are some of the key points to remember:

- Backup the Configuration: Before you delete any configuration elements, make sure to create a backup of the current settings. This will allow you to restore them later if needed and also serve as a reference for future setups.

- Know What You're Deleting: Make sure you understand the implications of deleting a specific configuration element. For example, deleting a VLAN may affect the network segmentation and access control, while deleting an interface configuration may disrupt the traffic flow.

- Follow the Best Practices: CISCO provides a set of best practices and guidelines for configuring and managing their switches. Make sure to follow these recommendations to ensure optimal performance, security, and reliability of your networking infrastructure.

- Verify the Changes: After you've deleted the configuration elements, verify that the switch is functioning as expected and that the traffic is flowing correctly. You may also need to reconfigure some settings to restore the previous functionality.

Conclusion

Deleting configuration on a CISCO switch is an essential task that network administrators may need to perform from time to time. Whether you prefer using the command line interface or the web interface, the basic steps involve identifying the configuration elements, deleting them, and saving the changes. By following the best practices and considering all the factors involved, you can ensure a successful configuration deletion process and maintain a robust and efficient network infrastructure.

II. Solution 2:

In a Cisco network, it is important to periodically delete the configuration of routers and switches to ensure that the network is running smoothly and efficiently. In this article, we will explain how to delete the configuration of a Cisco router and switch using the command-line interface (CLI).

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

· Access to Cisco CLI. You can access CLI through the console port of the router or switch or via a Telnet or SSH connection.

· The login credentials for the router or switch.

Set-Up

· Connect to a Cisco router or switch using a console port, a Telnet, or SSH connection.

· Log in to the router or switch using your login credentials.

Implementation

To delete the configuration of a Cisco router or switch, follow these steps:

Step 1: Login to the router by typing in the following command:

router> en

Step 2: Delete the configuration of the router or switch by typing the following command:

router# erase startup-config

This will delete the configuration stored in the startup-config file. The startup-config file is where the configuration of the router or switch is stored when the device is powered off.

Step 3: To delete the configuration of the running-config file, which is the current configuration of the router or switch, type the following command:

router# erase running-config

This will delete the current configuration of the router or switch and reset it to the default configuration.

Step 4: If you want to delete both the startup-config and running-config files, you can use the following command:

router# write erase

This will delete both the startup-config and running-config files and reset the router or switch to the default configuration.

Step 5: reboot, type in the following command:

route# reload

Key Terms

There are several subtopics related to deleting the configuration of a Cisco router or switch, including:

1. Backup and restore: It is important to back up the configuration of the router or switch before deleting it. This can be done using the “copy” command. You can also restore a previously backed-up configuration using the “copy” command.

2. Factory reset: You can reset a Cisco router or switch to its factory default configuration by using the “write erase” command followed by the “reload” command. This will delete the startup-config and running-config files and reset the device to its default configuration.

3. Configuration files: The configuration of a Cisco router or switch is stored in two files: the startup-config file and the running-config file. The startup-config file is the configuration that is loaded when the device is powered on, while the running-config file is the current configuration of the device.

Conclusion

Deleting the configuration of a Cisco router or switch can be useful if you want to reset the device to its default configuration or troubleshoot problems in the network. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily delete the configuration of a Cisco router.

Last Updated : 23 Jun, 2023

III. Solution 3:

"Cisco Switch Clear Configuration Command

Cisco switches are important devices in the network, allowing communication between different devices and playing a crucial role. During network management and maintenance, sometimes it is necessary to clear the configuration information on the switch for reconfiguration. This article will introduce the Cisco switch clear configuration command, helping network engineers better understand how to operate.

The Cisco switch clear configuration command includes two methods: one is through the user interface, the other is through the command line interface. Below, we will detail the steps for both methods.

1. Clearing Configuration Through User Interface

On a Cisco switch, we can use the Web interface to clear the configuration:

Step 1: Open the Web interface

Connect the computer and the switch on the same LAN, enter the switch's IP address in the browser, and open the switch's Web interface.

Step 2: Enter the Clear Configuration page

In the Web interface, select "Management," and then select "Restore to Default Settings."

Step 3: Confirm Clear Configuration

In the restore to default settings page, click the "Restore to Default Settings" button.

Step 4: Wait for Clearing to Finish

Wait for the switch to clear the configuration and restart.

2. Clearing Configuration Through Command Line Interface

On a Cisco switch, we can also use the command line interface to clear the configuration:

Step 1: Enter Privileged Mode

In the command line interface, enter the "enable" command to enter privileged mode.

Step 2: Enter Global Configuration Mode

In privileged mode, enter the "configure terminal" command to enter global configuration mode.

Step 3: Clear the Configuration

In global configuration mode, enter the "erase startup-config" command to clear the configuration.

Step 4: Save Configuration

In global configuration mode, enter the "write memory" command to save the new configuration.

Step 5: Restart the Switch

After clearing the configuration, enter the "reload" command to restart the switch.

Note:

Before clearing the switch configuration, be sure to back up the current configuration information to prevent data loss. After backing up, perform the clearing operation.

Conclusion:

The Cisco switch clear configuration command is an important skill for network engineers. Clearing the configuration can not only solve some configuration errors but also ensure network stability. This article introduced two methods for clearing the configuration, and network administrators can choose the appropriate method according to their actual situation.

IV. Solution 4:

"How to Clear Configuration on Cisco Switch

To clear the configuration on a Cisco switch, you can access the switch's underlying system and modify the switch's original configuration file name. After restarting the switch, if the switch cannot find the original configuration file, it will load the default system file (i.e. the switch's factory configuration) to clear the switch password.

Method 1:

In this article, we will use the Catalyst 2940 as an example:

1. Connect a computer COM port (or a USB to COM adapter) to the switch's console port using a console cable, and open the Super Terminal debugging window.

2. Turn on the switch and press and hold the "mode" button on the front of the switch until the sys light stops flashing (i.e. stays on), then release the "mode" button (you can also release the button when you see the characters displayed on the Super Terminal interface) to enter the switch's underlying mode: switch:

3. Type the command "switch: flash_init" and press enter to initialize the flash file system (in this mode, command abbreviations are not supported, so you must write the command in full).

4. Type the command "switch: dir flash:" and press enter to view the switch's configuration file (note that there is a colon after flash).

5. Type the command "switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.bak" and press enter to rename the switch's original configuration file to config.bak. Then use the command "switch:dir flash:" to check if the file name has been successfully changed.

6. Type the command "switch: boot" to restart the switch.

7. After restarting, it is recommended to clear the current configuration and VLAN data:

Switch#erase startup-config

Switch# flash:vlan.dat

Switch#reload

Finally, when the system prompts whether to save the configuration, select "no".

As an engineer, this is how to clear configuration on a Cisco switch.

V. Solution 5:

"Tools/Materials

CISCO series switch

Method/Steps

1. Firstly, backup the previous configuration information.

Copy flash:config.text config.old

2. Clear the switch configuration command: write erase

Of course, erase startup-config can also achieve clearing.

3. Reload

Restart and check.

End

Deleting VLAN

View the current VLAN configuration: Cat2950#show vlan

View the filename in Flash (switch configuration files and IOS are saved in Flash). Cat2960#dir flash: Check the specific name of the VLAN file in FLASH, which is usually VLAN.DAT.

3. Delete vlan.dat (switch VLAN information is saved in vlan.dat). Cat2960#flash:vlan.dat

4. After deleting the VLAN information, check the current VLAN configuration again: Cat2960#show vlan."

As an engineer, this is the method for backing up and clearing the configuration information on a CISCO series switch, as well as deleting VLANs and checking the current configurations.