Scenario
Make: Cisco
Model: Wireless Lan Controller [WLC] 2500 series etc.
Mode: CLI & GUI
Description: This article is to discuss and show how to reset the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller [WLC] to its factory-default settings. Resetting a WLC to its factory-default settings will erase all the saved configurations. Refer to the linked article if you are interested in how to reboot or restart Cisco WLC & Access Points.
CLI Mode
Step1: Login to Wireless LAN Controller or WLC using ID and Password. It is always recommended to save username and password somewhere which is safe and easily accessible.
login as: admin
(Cisco Controller)
User: admin
Password:**************
(Cisco Controller) >reset system
The system has unsaved changes.
Would you like to save them now? (y/N)
This will reboot the system.
Suddenly if you realized that you do not want to reset the WLC to its factory default settings and hence you want to abort the reset process right here then press “Esc” and then “N” as shown below.
(Cisco Controller) >reset system
The system has unsaved changes.
Would you like to save them now? (y/N)
This will reboot the system.
[When you press “Esc” you will get this as shown below]
configuration Not Saved!
Are you sure you would like to reset the system? (y/N) N
(Cisco Controller) >
Step2: When prompted for a username then enter recover-config to restore the wireless LAN controller or WLC to the factory default setting. The below-mentioned command will reset the wireless LAN controller or WLC to its Factory default setting.
User: recover-config
Press enter and the controller will reset back to factory default.
<Press Enter>
GUI Mode
Step1: Login to WLC via GUI
Click “Advance” to go to the advanced management mode of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller or WLC as shown below.
Step2: Follow the steps shown below to reset the Wireless LAN Controller or WLC to its factory default setting using a Graphical user interface.
In case the IOS or software get corrupt and if you need to update the software of the WLC then do not forget to go through Cisco IOS or Firmware Release Types. If you want to reboot the access points and WLC please refer the article Reboot Cisco WLC and Access Points.
Source: Knowledge Base, Lab, Cisco
EA00024
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