Discussion on:

Wipe data from Cisco routers and switches before discarding them

on a router, if you know the passwords, isn't the easiest way:

# erase start
# reload

???

If the line/enable password is missing, how would you log into the router to change the config register?

The correct procedure is to determine the password recovery process on the Cisco web site, for that model.

Typically, on a router, bounce it, and issue a break sequence as its booting, to enter ROMMON mode. The config-register 0x2142 can be issued there without knowing any passwords. Press I to reload, and after it boots up, you'll be prompted to enter the configuration menu.

The easiest way to erase a config on a switch without knowing passwords is to: (Step by step)

* Turn it off
* Press and hold the "Mode" switch
* Turn it back on
* Wait for all the funky lights to go out
* Release the mode switch.

Your Switch is now set back to Factory defaults! Yay ... crowd goes wild....

How do you clear the PW of a switch or router if receiving a donated item that was not cleared?

Thanks for this information on how to erase the configuration of a cisco router. I had problems days ago with my cisco 2821 router, and found that it was erased, so I reconfigured it. My question is, is it another way to erase a router besides going and do the config-reg 0x2142? I mean, is it there a bug on the IOS that you know that can do this? this router was with no problems for about 3 years, and suddenly, one mornning just went disconnected.
I'll appreciate any comment