How to Reset Dell OS10 Switch back to factory default

Summary: This is general guide on how to reset OS10 switches back to factory default.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Instructions

*** // ** THESE COMMAND are on customer responsability - It is your own risk if you loose all configuration or damaged the device *** // **


Under some situation, you want to remove all configuratons from switch and reset it back to factory default status. 
By resetting switch to factory default, we will get a clean switch and reconfigure it to another new role. 

- For OS9, we can do it as below :  
OS9# restore factory-defaults stack-unit all clear-all
But, for OS10 switch, we don't have such command, so we have to finish it manually from linux kernel. 

Notes : 
Please keep following in mind, after reset switch to factory default, you CANNOT login switch remotely by ssh or telnet
because of all configurations removed ! So, must do the operation from console access locally ! 
For console login, please review the article : Dell PowerSwitch S4048-ON Installation Guide May 2023 | Dell US,
What type of console cables are used for Dell PowerConnect, N Series, and Force10 switches | Dell U
Micro USB-B console port access 
The MicroUSB-B console port is on the I/O side of the switch


Following are steps to reset OS10 switch back to factory default status. 

Step01, Check and Save Original Configuration 

Take "show run" as configurations backup, Notice the hostname is "Core01" before the factory default.  
Core01# show running-configuration | no-more
...<output omitted>... 

Other key settings to keep before :  
VLT settings, 
Core01# show running-configuration vlt
!
vlt-domain 1
 backup destination 100.1.1.2
 discovery-interface ethernet1/1/47-1/1/48
!
interface port-channel100
 vlt-port-channel 100
!
interface port-channel200
 vlt-port-channel 200
Core01#

VLAN settings,  
Core01# show vlan
Codes: * - Default VLAN, M - Management VLAN, R - Remote Port Mirroring VLANs,
       @ - Attached to Virtual Network, P - Primary, C - Community, I - Isolated,
       S - VLAN-Stack VLAN
Q: A - Access (Untagged), T - Tagged
    NUM    Status    Description                     Q Ports
*   1      Active                                    A Eth1/1/3-1/1/46,1/1/49-1/1/54
                                                     A Po100,200
    10     Inactive
    20     Inactive
    4094   Inactive
Core01#

STP settings,  
Core01# show running-configuration spanning-tree
!
spanning-tree mode rstp
spanning-tree rstp priority 0
Core01#

Version information,  
Core01# show version
Dell SmartFabric OS10 Enterprise
Copyright (c) 1999-2023 by Dell Inc. All Rights Reserved.
OS Version: 10.5.5.0P1
Build Version: 10.5.5.0P1.48
Build Time: 2023-03-27T23:29:50+0000
System Type: S4148F-ON
Architecture: x86_64
Up Time: 2 days 22:13:41
Core01#
Core01# show boot
Current system image information:
===================================
Type      Boot Type      Active                   Standby                 Next-Boot
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Node-id 1 Flash Boot     [B] 10.5.5.0P1          [A] 10.5.4.4            [B] active
Core01#
 

Step02, Enter into Linux Kernel 

Rollback to factory default in Linux Kernel,  
Core01# system bash   ------// enter into OS10 linux kernel, 
admin@OS10:/home/admin$ sudo -i   ------// get the root permission, 
[sudo] password for admin: <input admin user password>
root@Core01:~#

Step03, Locate Configuration file 

Check current file status, 
root@Core01:~# ls -ls /config/etc/opt/dell/os10/db_init/
total 72
72 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 71053 Apr 17 03:59 startup.xml   ---// this is startup configuration file, 
root@Core01:~#
root@Core01:~# ls -ls /config/var/lib/redis/
total 1328
1328 -rw-rw---- 1 redis redis 1356346 Apr 17 03:59 dump.rdb   ---// this is redis database file, 
root@Core01:~#
 

Step04, Delete Configuration file 

Restore all to default configurations (factory default) by removing startup and redis database files. 
WARNING : it will delete the startup and config of switch
root@Core01:~# rm -rf /config/etc/opt/dell/os10/db_init/startup.xml
root@Core01:~#
root@Core01:~# rm -vf /config/var/lib/redis/dump.rdb
removed '/config/var/lib/redis/dump.rdb'
root@Core01:~#

Double-Check to make sure file deleted : 
root@Core01:~# ls -ls /config/etc/opt/dell/os10/db_init/
total 0
root@Core01:~#
root@Core01:~# ls -ls /config/var/lib/redis/
total 0
root@Core01:~#
 

Step05, Synchronize and Reboot Switch 

root@Core01:~# sync
You have new mail in /var/mail/root
root@Core01:~#
root@Core01:~# reboot -f
Rebooting.
[253579.539373] reboot: Restarting system
15, 00068001, 19, 00068000,
BIOS Boot Selector for S4100
Version 3.33.0.1-12
POST Configuration
  CPU Signature 406D8
  CPU FamilyID=6, Model=4D, SteppingId=8, Processor=0
  Microcode Revision 12D
  Platform ID: 0x1004182E
  PMG_CST_CFG_CTL: 0x40006
  BBL_CR_CTL3: 0x7E2801FF
  Misc EN: 0x4000840081
  Gen PM Con1: 0x203808
  Therm Status: 0x8842000F
  POST Control=0xEA000301, Status=0xE6000000
  Last boot POST Status=0xDF00
BIOS initializations...
CPGC Memtest ................................ PASS
POST:
  RTC Battery OK at last cold boot
  RTC date 4/17/2023 4:08:46
POST SPD test ............................... PASS
POST Lower DRAM Memory test
....  Perf cnt (curr,fixed): 0x1D4E22F32,0x1DB1DA287
POST Lower DRAM Memory test ................. PASS
POST Lower DRAM ECC check ................... PASS
37, 00068003, 3B, 00068002, 4F,
PEIM: DxE Load Core (03021001)
60, DXE_CORE_STARTED (03041000)
...<output omitted>... 
 

Step06, Verify the Result 

Notice the hostname back to default "OS10", 
OS10# show boot
Current system image information:
===================================
Type      Boot Type      Active                   Standby                 Next-Boot
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Node-id 1 Flash Boot     [B] 10.5.5.0P1          [A] 10.5.4.4            [B] active
OS10#

OS10# show running-configuration vlt
OS10#    ---// vlt setting removed, no output, 
OS10# show interface port-channel summary
LAG     Mode      Status    Uptime              Ports
OS10#   ---// no port-channel interfaces, 

OS10# show vlan
Codes: * - Default VLAN, M - Management VLAN, R - Remote Port Mirroring VLANs,
       @ - Attached to Virtual Network, P - Primary, C - Community, I - Isolated,
       S - VLAN-Stack VLAN
Q: A - Access (Untagged), T - Tagged
    NUM    Status    Description                     Q Ports
*   1      Active                                    A Eth1/1/1-1/1/26,1/1/29-1/1/54
OS10#      ------// only default vlan 1, all other vlans removed, 

OS10# show running-configuration spanning-tree
!
OS10#   ---// stp setting removed, default will be rpvst mode, 
OS10# 
OS10# show spanning-tree active
Spanning tree enabled protocol rapid-pvst with force-version rstp   ---// default stp mode is rpvst ! 
VLAN 1
Executing IEEE compatible Spanning Tree Protocol
Root ID    Priority 32769, Address e4f0.0484.2190
Root Bridge hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Bridge ID    Priority 32769, Address e4f0.0484.2190
We are the root of VLAN 1
Configured hello time 2, max age 20, forward delay 15
Flush Interval 200 centi-sec, Flush Invocations 5
Flush Indication threshold 5
...<output omitted>... 



All configurations had been removed and switch is restored to factory default without any customer's settings. 

Additional Information

Refer to this video:

Factory Reset SmartFabric OS10

Duration: 00:02:01 (hh:mm:ss)
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the CC icon on this video player.

You can also view this video on YouTube.

 

Affected Products

SmartFabric OS10 Software
Article Properties
Article Number: 000212446
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 05 يناير 2026
Version:  4
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.