This guide covers how to perform a hardware factory reset on an HP 1810 ProCurve switch and how to access its web interface afterwards. Unlike many other enterprise switches, this model does not use a console cable but relies on a direct Ethernet connection and a specific IP configuration.
To reset the switch to its factory default settings, you will need two small pins or paperclips.
Locate the Reset and Clear buttons on the front of the switch. Use the pins to press and hold both buttons simultaneously.
Release the Reset button, but continue to hold the Clear button.
Keep holding Clear until the Act/FDX LED begins to flash. Once it flashes, you can release the Clear button.
Wait a few moments. You will see the LEDs for ports 1 through 8 light up sequentially in a "waterfall" pattern. This indicates that the switch has been successfully factory reset.
Since this switch is managed via a web GUI, you need to connect your computer directly to it.
Take a standard Ethernet cable and plug one end into any of the switch ports (1-8) and the other end into your computer's network port.
The default IP address of the switch is in the 192.168.2.x range. You must configure your computer's network adapter to communicate on this specific subnet.
Right-click the network icon in your taskbar and select Network and Internet settings. Navigate to Ethernet settings.
Find the "IP assignment" section and click Edit. Change the setting from DHCP to Manual and enable IPv4.
Enter an IP address that is on the same subnet as the switch, but not the switch's own IP. Use the following settings:
IP Address: 192.168.2.123 (or any number between 2-254, except 10)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 (/24)
Gateway: (Leave Blank)
DNS: (Leave Blank)
Click Save to apply the settings.
Now that your computer is on the correct network, you can access the switch's management interface.
Open your web browser and enter the default IP address for the HP 1810 switch:
192.168.2.10
You should now see the login screen or the main dashboard (default often has no password). You can verify the reset by checking the "Up Time," which should be very low (e.g., a few minutes).
After you make any changes to the switch settings (like setting a new IP or VLANs), it is critical to make them permanent. Go to the Maintenance menu and select Save Configuration to ensure your settings survive a reboot.