Cisco Identity Services Engine Installation Guide, Release 3.5

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Perform a system erase

Updated: May 28, 2026

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Overview

Provides instructions on how to securely wipe all data from your Cisco ISE appliance to return it to its original factory state. This process is typically used when decommissioning a device or preparing it for a fresh, clean reinstallation.

You can securely erase all information from your Cisco ISE appliance or VM by performing a system erase. This method helps you comply with NIST Special Publication 800-88 data destruction standards.

This method ensures Cisco ISE compliance with NIST Special Publication 800-88 data destruction standards.

Before you begin

Understand these connection-related conditions that may cause problems when you use the Cisco ISE software DVD to start a Cisco ISE appliance:

  • If your terminal server is associated with the serial console connection to the Cisco ISE appliance and is set to exec, change the setting to no exec. This change allows you to use both a KVM connection and a serial console connection.

  • Set up a keyboard and video monitor (KVM) connection to the Cisco ISE appliance. Use either a remote KVM connection or a VMware vSphere client console connection.

  • Set up a serial console connection to the Cisco ISE appliance.

Procedure

1.

Ensure that the Cisco ISE device is powered up.

2.

Insert the Cisco ISE software DVD.

3.

Use the arrow keys to select System Utilities (Serial Console), and press Enter.

The system displays the ISO utilities menu as shown here: 



Available System Utilities:

[1] Recover administrator password
[2] Virtual Machine Resource Check
[3] System Erase
[q] Quit and reload

Enter option [1 - 3] q to Quit:
4.

Enter 3 to perform a system erase.

The console displays: 

 **********   W A R N I N G   **********
THIS UTILITY WILL PERFORM A SYSTEM ERASE ON THE DISK DEVICE(S). THIS PROCESS CAN TAKE UP TO 5 HOURS TO COMPLETE. THE RESULT WILL BE COMPLETE
DATA LOSS OF THE HARD DISK. THE SYSTEM WILL NO LONGER BOOT AND WILL REQUIRE A RE-IMAGE FROM INSTALL MEDIA TO RESTORE TO FACTORY DEFAULT STATE.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? [Y/N] Y
5.

Enter Y.

The console prompts with another warning: 

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANGE TO CANCEL. PROCEED WITH SYSTEM ERASE? [Y/N] Y
6.

Enter Y to perform a system erase.

The console displays: 

Deleting system disk, please wait…
Writing random data to all sectors of disk device (/dev/sda)…
Writing zeros to all sectors of disk device (/dev/sda)…
Completed!  System is now erased.  
Press <Enter> to reboot.

To reuse the appliance after performing a system erase, boot the system using the Cisco ISE DVD and choose the install option from the boot menu.