Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE 26.1.x

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Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Software Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS XE 26.1.x

Secure data wipe

Updated: April 10, 2026

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Explains how the secure data wipe feature on Cisco access points erases sensitive files, stores wipeout status, and assists in verification and troubleshooting.

Secure data wipe is a feature that

  • securely erases files from the file system of Cisco APs using the clear ap config command

  • stores basic information about the wipeout and its status, and

  • helps verify and troubleshoot erased files.

Types of files securely erased

These files are securely erased, without possibility of recovery:

  • Configuration and backup configuration files

  • Crash files

  • Log files

  • Boot variables

  • Package logs

Feature history

Table 1. Feature history for secure data wipe

Release

Feature

Feature Information

Cisco IOS XE Dublin 17.11.1

Secure data wipe

The Secure Data Wipe feature allows you to securely erase files from the file system of Cisco APs by using the clear ap config command.

Restrictions

Restriction for secure data wipe is as follows:

Data wipe for APs in Work Group Bridge mode can be done only through the mode button, which needs to be pressed for 20 to 60 seconds to remove storage content.

Supported AP models and software versions

Supported software versions

Cisco APs

Supported versions

Cisco Wave 1 APs

Cisco IOS XE 17.3, Cisco IOS XE 17.9.3 and its later versions, and Cisco IOS XE 17.12.

Cisco Wave 2 APs

Cisco IOS XE 17.11, Cisco IOS XE 17.12, and Cisco IOS XE 17.13.
Note

Cisco Wave 1 APs are not supported in 17.4, 17.5, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 17.10 and later releases.

Supported AP models

Cisco IOS APs

Cisco COS APs

Cisco Catalyst APs

3700 (I/E/P)

3800 (I/E/P)

9162I

9164I

9166I

9166D1

9163E

2700 (I/E)

2800 (I/E)

9124AX (I/D/E)

1700I

1815 (I/W)

9136I

702W

1840 (I)

9130AX (I/E)

1532I/E

1850 (I/E)

9120AX (I/E)

1570

1830 (I/W)

9117AXI

—

1810

9115AX (I/E)

—

1800I

9105AX (I/W)

—

1540

—

—

1560

—

—

4800

—

Verify data wipe

To verify the output of the data wipe, run the show flash wipeout-log AP command:

Cisco-AP# show flash wipeout-log 
DATA SANITATION LOGS
Filesystem Name    :    Flash
Filesystem size    :    519 M (bytes) 
Total Files        :    95
Data Wipe Time     :    Fri Mar  8 09:50:49 UTC 2024 
Data Wipe method   :    CLEAR
Files cleared      :    92
Bytes cleared      :    5484544 (bytes)
Total Free byte    :    458846208 (bytes)
Device PID         :    C9130AXI-E           
Serial number      :    KWC233202MN  
Data Wipe Status   :    SUCCESS