How to overwrite EdgeSwitch factory default settings

Why Overwrite the Factory Defaults?

Overwriting the factory defaults is useful for both security and ease of use, changing the factory default password can prevent attackers from gaining access to the network by factory resetting switches and accessing them via the factory default password. Additionally, overwriting the default settings can allow for EdgeSwitches to automatically report to your UISP instance, even if they're manually reset. this makes troubleshooting remote devices easier as resetting them is no longer so much of a hassle.

  1. SSH into the EdgeSwitch
    1. ssh ubnt@[ip-address]
  2. Make your desired changes, be sure to not make any changes that may cause you to disconnect from the switch in the future, once overwriting the default configuration, the only way to go back to the true factory default is to log back in and erase the default config.
    1. In our case, we will be adding a UISP key
      1. Enter enable to enter privileged mode
      2. Enter configure to enter Global Configuration mode
      3. input service unms key [UISP Key] to set the UISP key
      4. Enter service unms to enable UISP
      5. Before continuing, reboot the switch to confirm changes, enter exit to leave global configuration mode, and type reload to cold-restart the switch
  3. To set the current configuration as the default configuration and overwrite the factory defaults
    1. SSH into the EdgeSwitch
      1. ssh ubnt@[ip-address]
    2. Enter enable to enter privileged mode
    3. enter copy system:running-config nvram:factory-defaults (EdgeSwitch will not allow you to copy the startup config to factory defaults, this is to prevent you from bricking your switch by setting a broken startup config as default)
  4. Test the default configuration by factory resetting the switch by erasing the startup configuration, Note that using the pin reset method will reset your overwritten defaults back to true factory defaults.