File Storage Options

This section details what you must know about the internal boot and system flash memory and Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass-storage device, which you can use to store the files that start and operate the switch.

The switch file system uses long file names.

Internal flash

The switch has two internal flash memory devices: the boot flash memory and the system flash memory. The system flash memory size is 2 gigabytes (GB).

Boot flash memory is split into two banks that each contain a different copy of the boot image files. Only the Image Management feature can make changes to the boot flash.

The system flash memory stores configuration files, runtime images, the system log, and other files. You can access files on the internal flash through the /intflash/ folder.

USB device

The switch can use a USB device for additional storage or configuration files, release images, and other files. The USB device provides a convenient, removable mechanical to copy files between a computer and a switch, or between switches. In cases where network connectivity has not yet been established, or network file transfer is not feasible, you can use a USB device to upgrade the configuration and image files on the switch.

File Transfer Protocol

You can use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to load the software directly to the switch, or to download the software to the internal flash memory or to an installed USB device.

The switch can act as an FTP server or client. If you enable the FTP daemon (ftpd), you can use a standards-based FTP client to connect to the switch by using the CLI log on parameters. Copy the files from the client to either the internal flash memory or USB device.