It is possible to boot a Cisco router off of a USB flash drive. This can come in real handy if you are on-site and the compact flash of the router isbad. Here are the steps to do it: [more]
Format your USB flash drive with a FAT file system. This needs to be FAT and not FAT32.
Copy the system IOS image to the USB flash drive.
While the router is powered off, plug in the USB flash drive to the USB port on the router.
Power on the router and when it starts to boot up press the Break key to enter ROMMON mode.
Once in ROMMON mode enter the following command to boot to USB:
The following link has some more information about what is supported: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps6247/prod_qas0900aecd80232483.html
FAQs
Power on the router and when it starts to boot up press the Break key to enter ROMMON mode. Once in ROMMON mode enter the following command to boot to USB: boot usbflash0:<system image file name> (e.g. boot usbflash0:1841-advsecurityk9-mz.
How to boot from USB flash drive? ›
Once the computer has turned on, press the 'F11' or 'Delete' keys repeatedly until you reach the boot menu. From here, select 'Boot from USB' and choose your drive from the available options. Depending on your machine's setup, you may also have to make additional changes in BIOS mode prior to booting up.
What format does a flash drive need to be for a Cisco router? ›
To be compatible with a Cisco router, a USB Flash module must be formatted in a FAT16 format. If that is not the case, the showfilesystems command will display an error indicating an incompatible file system. a Cisco router, a USB Flash module must be formatted in a FAT16 format.
How to upgrade Cisco router using USB? ›
Upgrade Cisco IOS with a USB Drive
- Step 1: Make sure the IOS is on the Cisco USB Drive. ...
- Step 2: Insert drive in the USB port on the back of the switch. ...
- Step 3: Copy the IOS into Flash: on the switch. ...
- Step 4: Tell switch to boot to the new IOS - and reboot. ...
- Step 5: Switch boots to new IOS - Remove Old IOS from Flash.
The factors that may stop a bootable USB drive from working are various. If your computer can't boot from USB, make sure the drive is bootable, the PC supports USB booting, the USB is formatted to NTFS, and ensure the PC is configured correctly to boot from the drive.
How to make USB as bootable? ›
To create a bootable USB flash drive
- Insert a USB flash drive into a running computer.
- Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator.
- Type diskpart , and then select ENTER.
- In the new command line window that opens, determine the USB flash drive number or drive letter by typing list disk , and then select ENTER.
Power on the router and when it starts to boot up press the Break key to enter ROMMON mode. Once in ROMMON mode enter the following command to boot to USB: boot usbflash0:<system image file name> (e.g. boot usbflash0:1841-advsecurityk9-mz. 124-23.
How do I connect my Cisco router to a USB console cable? ›
How to connect to a Cisco router via the console cable
- Buy a USB console cable.
- Connect the console cable to your router.
- Turn on the router.
- Check the allocated TTY port.
- Install the required software and configure the connection. ...
- Connect your Cisco router via the console cable on your Mac.
FAT-32 File System
The ASA 5500-X supports only FAT-32-formatted file systems for the eUSB and external USB drives. If you insert an external USB drive that is not in FAT-32 format, the system mounting process fails, and you receive an error message.
How do I access a USB device on my router? ›
Router Settings
- Plug the USB storage device into the USB port of the TP-Link router.
- Log in to the router's webpage. ...
- Go to USB settings. ...
- Considering the safety, we suggest you enable the“Secure Sharing” option to prevent others from accessing your USB drive without login.
Enable the USB port. In the USB settings, you should see an option to enable the USB port. Click on the checkbox or button to enable the USB port. You may also have the option to configure other settings, such as file sharing, user access, and media server settings, depending on your router's features.
How to backup Cisco router configuration to USB? ›
Backup Config from CISCO Router/Switch to Flash Drive
- Step 1: Plug in flash drive with the terminal up and note what the device is identified as. e.g. usbflash0.
- Step 2: May need to format the flash drive. #Needs to be formatted as FAT. ...
- Step 3: Copy Startup Config. ...
- Step 4: Properly store backup.
USB ports serve as additional LAN ports, accommodating devices like printers, external storage drives, or gaming consoles. This functionality is especially beneficial for households or offices with numerous wired devices but limited Ethernet ports on the router.
How do I connect a USB hard drive to my router? ›
If you want to use a wired external hard drive, plug it into your router's USB port. A wireless hard drive may be a more convenient option—just make sure it's fully charged or running off external power. Fire up the drive and follow the instructions in the manual to set up a wireless connection to your computer.
How to enable USB flash drive in BIOS? ›
Change BIOS to boot from USB or CD/DVD
- Find your BIOS's Boot Options menu.
- Select the appropriate Boot Media Device (CD/DVD-ROM drive OR USB) as the first boot device of your computer.
- Save the changes of the settings.
- Shut off your computer.
- Insert the CD/DVD/USB boot media.
Download the correct BIOS file that matches your motherboard and version number in to your USB device. Extract the BIOS-zip file that you have downloaded and paste it to your USB storage device. Select USB storage that comes with the downloaded BIOS. Select the BIOS file that you wishes to update and press “Enter”.
How to make a USB bootable Windows 10? ›
Steps for how to make bootable USB Windows 10
- Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website.
- Launch the Media Creation Tool and accept the terms.
- Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC. ...
- Choose your preferred language, edition, and architecture.
USB Floppy Disk Drive. That would be one of the options to boot from, if you had a USB floppy drive installed and wished to boot from a floppy disk—useful if you were needing to boot to plain DOS or perhaps flashing a BIOS update.
