5 – Diagnostics/Troubleshooting
Recovering a Switch Using Maintenance Mode
59096-04  A 5-13
A
5.5
Recovering a Switch Using Maintenance Mode
A switch can become inoperable or unmanageable for the following reasons:
 Firmware becomes corrupt
 IP address is lost
 Switch configuration becomes corrupt
 Forgotten password
In these specific cases, you can recover the switch using maintenance mode. 
Maintenance mode temporarily returns the switch IP address to 10.0.0.1 and 
provides opportunities to do the following:
 Exiting the Maintenance Menu
 Unpacking a Firmware Image File in Maintenance Mode
 Resetting the Network Configuration in Maintenance Mode
 Resetting User Accounts in Maintenance Mode
 Copying Log Files in Maintenance Mode
 Removing the Switch Configuration in Maintenance Mode
 Remaking the File System in Maintenance Mode
 Resetting the Switch in Maintenance Mode
 Updating the Boot Loader in Maintenance Mode
To recover a switch, do the following:
1. Place the switch in maintenance mode. Press and hold the Maintenance 
button with a pointed tool until the Heartbeat LED alone is illuminated, then 
release the button. The Heartbeat LED illuminates continuously when the 
switch is in maintenance mode.
2. Establish a Telnet session with the switch using the maintenance mode IP 
address 10.0.0.1.
3. Enter the maintenance mode account name and password (prom, prom), 
and press the Enter key.
Switch login: prom
Password:xxxx