Discussion on:

Using a USB flash drive with your Cisco router

instead of booting from the internal flash or external compact flash, can
u boot ios from usb?

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6247/products_data_sheet0900aecd80232473.html

The USB Flash feature allows users to store images and configurations, and boot images directly via USB Flash memory.

Here is the link to Q & A page on Cisco's website. The USB is supported beginning in 12.3(14)T. In order to boot from the USB it appears you must be running ROMMON 12.4(13r).

The I/O reads and writes on a flash drive will go out way before a normal DRAM module will. This means it will instantly die without warning. That's my only concern, but if you're a good admin you will know when something's up before your users do.

Don't know if the last two posted...

If you're going to put your certs, router configs, and IOS on these things, I hope you don't accidentally lose on in a parking lot somewhere.

copying the IOS from one router to another without buying the upgrade from Cisco is violating the license agreement.

Is there an autorun that the routers look at? I would like to use the USB in a Disaster Recovery plan to automatically config a replacement router.

can you install the Cisco SDM to the usb device?

Hi, Thanks for the info. Would you copy it back to a new one if it's for example from 871 to 881?

Hey, thanks for the info. I know you are an expert with Cisco devices. And I've trying to modify a process in IOS. Could you recommend me a book?...