;)
Tuesday
Nov172009
reset the WLC to factory default settings using the CLI
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 11:34PM 
This week I am configuring (2) 6504's with 4 WiSMs for a brand new installation. We are deploying Cisco's new 1142 802.11n access points in a location grade deisgn. As part of the deployment and configuration I needed to restore one of the WiSMs back to factory default. I wanted to share with you the procedure and CLI commands.
1. First, you need to reset the controller. Enter reset system at the command prompt.
2. At the prompt that asks whether you need to save changes to the configuration, enter Y or N, doesn’t matter what you select. The controller will then reboot.
3. When you are prompted for a username, enter recover-config to restore the factory default configuration.
Press enter and the controller will reset back to factory default.
Reader Comments (3)
Hey!
First of all I would like to say that this site rocks! very nice articles and cool videos.
Now my comment...."reset system" doesnt reset a controller to factory defaults.
It mearly reboots the controller. In order to reset a controller to factory defaults you need to issue the command "clear config".
/Kelvin
Thank you for the kind words about the site.... As we both know there are a number of ways to skin a cat.But my post about recovery-config is correct. In fact i have a controller here in front of me and she is wiped clean after the command. Here is also a supporting cisco link
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:JnZXvcb-WVsJ:https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-1639%3Bjsessionid%3D74CCCCB207E4BE19513101A5ECE2C4D7.node0+cli+recover-config+wlc&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
This command comes in handy when you dont have access to do a clear config command.
Enjoy!
You are right - I stand corrected :-)
My bad
/K