HP 2920 switch - clear all memory

Question

I'm aware that HP 2920 switches have volatile and non-volatile memory. I've read parts of the manual and have found commands to erase the current custom default configuration, to erase the custom default configuration, and to erase all memory and zeroize the flash. The goal is to take a fully configured switch with lots of application-specific information and to clear all the data out to return it to its original, factory-default state. I've come up with the following steps and wanted to know (a) whether this is sufficient and (b) whether this is necessary to remove all non-factory-default data and settings from the switch:

1. Erase current startup config using, e.g., erase-startup-config.
2. Erase default startup config using, e.g., erase-default-config.
3. Erase and zeroize all user data, e.g., erase all zeroize.
4. Press Clear + Reset to reset the configs
5. Remove power to clear out the volatile memory (sufficient for our purposes)

In particular:

1. If you do step 4, do you need to do steps 1 and 2?
2. If you do step 3, do you need to do steps 1 and 2?
3. If all the steps are done exactly as outlined, are the contents of switch memory distinguishable from the contents of a factory default switch - i.e., at they different from the contents before you turned it on for the first time? (I mean, in known, deterministic ways. It seems clear to me that there might be lots of random differences that are uninteresting).

I think the answer to 3. might be that if you have updated the software, then the updates remain installed, but I think that is OK for our case. Are there any other issues?

Edit: For bonus points, is there some command/action I can take whose express purpose is to actually zeroize the whole non-volatile memory, including software and configs in addition to user data, and then some procedure for putting the factory image back onto it? Is this typical? Time to perform the procedure is less important than ease/simplicity.

Solution

To execute the factory default reset on the switch, perform these steps:

1. Using pointed objects, simultaneously press both the Reset and Clearbuttons on the front of the switch.

2. Continue to press the Clear button while releasing the Reset button.3.When the Test LED begins to blink, release the Clear button. It takes approximately 25 seconds before the Test LED will begin to blink.

The switch will then complete its boot process and begin operating withits configuration restored to the factory default settings.

Comments

[Admin]

What?!? What's the goal? Why isn't a reset enough? Have you tried anything yet?

[Admin]

@ewwhite The goal is to perform a series of commands that will ensure, to the greatest extent feasible, that the switch is returned to its initial, unconfigured, unused state as far as memory is concerned only. I have not tried this but am trying to understand how this would work at a conceptual level.

[Admin]

See below... from the product manual.

[Patrick87]

Thanks for this. Does this clear and/or zeroize the non-config data? Does it have any effect on the software or does it leave that alone? I think the answers are no in both cases but I might not understand what the procedure is doing. I think I do understand that this (step 4 in my question) makes steps 1 and 2 unnecessary.

[ewwhite]

When I buy a used switch, I reset it to factory using the hardware method then upgrade firmware. That is all. But, HP ProCurve switches have a lifetime warranty. Give support a call to have them address your concerns.

[Dan Pritts]

@Patrick87, to answer your question, it clears the configuration, including saved passwords, and resets to default config. It doesn't delete firmware.