Dell OS10 Factory Reset and Password Recovery: Step-by-Step

Unlike the older OS9 platform, Dell PowerSwitch OS10 has no one-command restore factory-defaults equivalent, so resetting a switch to factory state means deleting the startup configuration and Redis database files from inside the Linux kernel. This article documents the complete Dell KB procedure, including the mandatory console access, the exact files to remove, verification after reboot, and how to recover a forgotten admin or linuxadmin password when you are locked out.

Why OS10 Needs a Manual Reset

On OS9 you can run restore factory-defaults stack-unit all clear-all, but OS10 removed that command. The configuration is stored in two files: /config/etc/opt/dell/os10/db_init/startup.xml (the startup configuration) and /config/var/lib/redis/dump.rdb (the Redis database). Removing both and rebooting returns the switch to factory defaults. Because all configuration is deleted, SSH and Telnet access disappear, so the operation must be performed from the console port.

Step 1: Check and Save the Original Configuration

Core01# show running-configuration | no-more
Core01# show running-configuration vlt
Core01# show vlan
Core01# show running-configuration spanning-tree
Core01# show version
Core01# show boot

Capture the hostname, VLT settings, VLANs, STP mode and software version before resetting so the switch can be reconfigured later.

Step 2: Enter the Linux Kernel

Core01# system bash
admin@OS10:/home/admin$ sudo -i
[sudo] password for admin: <input admin user password>
root@Core01:~#

Step 3: Locate the Configuration Files

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
root@Core01:~# ls -ls /config/var/lib/redis/
total 1328
1328 -rw-rw---- 1 redis redis 1356346 Apr 17 03:59 dump.rdb

Step 4: Delete the Configuration Files

root@Core01:~# rm -rf /config/etc/opt/dell/os10/db_init/startup.xml
root@Core01:~# rm -vf /config/var/lib/redis/dump.rdb
removed '/config/var/lib/redis/dump.rdb'

Double-check both directories are empty before rebooting.

Step 5: Synchronize and Reboot

root@Core01:~# sync
root@Core01:~# reboot -f

Step 6: Verify the Factory Default State

OS10# show boot
OS10# show running-configuration vlt    <-- no output, VLT removed
OS10# show interface port-channel summary
OS10# show vlan                          <-- only default VLAN 1
OS10# show spanning-tree active          <-- default rapid-pvst

The hostname returns to OS10 and only the default VLAN 1 remains.

OS10 Password Recovery for Locked-Out Switches

If both the OS10 admin user and the Linux linuxadmin user passwords are lost, Dell documents a recovery path through the boot process: interrupt booting from the BIOS, change the boot command list to boot into the OS10 Linux environment, and then reset the account passwords from root@OS10:/#. Keep the console connected because network access is unavailable at that stage.

Important Notes

• Always work from the console port - remote access dies with the configuration.
• Back up the running configuration before deleting anything.
• After reset, reconfigure the management IP and default gateway before enabling remote management.

Related articles: Dell OS10 factory reset via the Linux kernel, OS10 factory reset and default gateway configuration, and Dell OS10 VLT setup.

原文链接：https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000212446/how-to-reset-dell-os10-switch-back-to-factory-default