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Forum Discussion
Can't reset switch to factory defaults
Hello,
I've tried the paperclip that usually works for my other switches. Tried 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 8 seconds, 15 seconds, 25 seconds over and over - still doesn't reset.
I hooked up a usb to mini cable and connected to the mini console port which shows up in device manager as
Silicon labs CP210x USB to uart (Com3)
I try to attach using Com3 in Putty - no response- pressed enter many times
I hooked up my old serial RS232 to USB to an RJ45 adapter - it shows up in device manager as
Aten USB to serial Bridge (COM6)
I try to attach using Com6 in Putty - no response- pressed enter many times
I've done Extreme, Cisco, HP, Dell and Avaya switches but am scratching my head on the Netgear. Can you help a Netgear user try to get access to his M4300 switch?
8 Replies
Hello,
I do not have support on my switch so I can't call support. The switch has a password on it and I can press the reset button for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, a few days and it will not reset the password.
I've hooked up a usb cable and am connected with CLI. Some web pages say press 2, some say 13, some say 14 as soon as possible.
I must be either using the wrong number or doing it at the wrong time as I still get to the admin login and blank and 1234 and password for the password do not work.
I'm stuck at this prompt now.
Moving target opening yet another thread? Mind you we are community members, not paid Netgear support please.
This is the formal way - permitting the serial console remains workable, and the switch isn't completely dead - you have to break the boot process to get access to the boot menu:
M4300 Resetting to factory default using the boot menu
The "trick" breaking the boot process is nicely documented - press and hold the Q key ...
Thanks! - I got there but was unable to reset it - it kept asking for the admin username and password and blank as the PW did not work. I ended up at the point of just being stuck at the M4300R2 prompt as I must have cleared the entire config.
I've set up a tftp on my PC
I have the firmware file loaded as far as I can tell -- not sure the next step
Originally, the Reset button on the front was just a reset:
- Up to 5 seconds initiates a reset (soft restart)
Starting from firmware v12.0.6.6, some function overload is in place:
- 2...5 seconds initiates a reset (soft restart)
- 5 seconds or longer does a factory reset
Thanks - as I mentioned the reset it not working. I have a dozen of these switches. I can tell when the reset is pressed in and I can count past 5. It will not reset - there are many web pages of people having the same issue - this is not an unknown issue. Tech support just wants to sell you warranty so calling them isn't very helpful.
Permitting, the serial console would be workable, there would be alternate ways doing a factory reset.
This is the formal way - permitting the serial console remains workable, and the switch isn't completely dead:
M4300 Resetting to factory default using the boot menu/
These managed switches are coming with a limited lifetime warranty for the original buyer.
there are many web pages of people having the same issue - this is not an unknown issue.
Talking of Netgear M4300 Managed Switches? Links and references please...
Tech support just wants to sell you warranty so calling them isn't very helpful.
This is for consumer devices. Have you mentioned you talk of a managed M4300 Series switch model?
In case your undefined M4300 switch model is properly registered to your account, head to https://my.netgear.com/ click on the registered device, and follow the [Request Hardware Support] process please.
I hooked up a usb to mini cable and connected to the mini console port which shows up in device manager as
Silicon labs CP210x USB to uart (Com3)
I try to attach using Com3 in Putty - no response- pressed enter many timesReads more you have a very basic connectivity issue to the undefined M4300 model switch.
I hooked up my old serial RS232 to USB to an RJ45 adapter - it shows up in device manager as
Aten USB to serial Bridge (COM6)
I try to attach using Com6 in Putty - no response- pressed enter many timesTo my knowledge, there is only a USB-C port connecting to a built-in Silicon labs CP210x UART. There is -no- other serial console port on most if not all M4300 switch models. Are you mistaking the OOB (Puit-of-band) GbE port with an RJ45 connector? This is not a serial console.
What your PC does designate as COM3 might be the console port indeed. When you head to https://netgear.com/support/ and locate your model, head to the downloads, there is a "USB Console Driver" - to my knowledge nothing Netgear specific (except of the USB-console-driver.zip file name), these are generic Silicon Labs CP210x drivers.
In case there is no output on the designates USB UART console port after cold power-up the switch, the hardware must be badly broken. Are some LED - and specifically the power LED - light-up when applying power? Just to be on the safe side, re-install this driver on your computer - and reboot the system.
Time to contact Netgear Support via https://my.netgear.com/ to request a hardware exchange, as these switches have lifetime warranty (to the original buyer).
Regards,
-Kurt.
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