Using USB to upgrade ISE appliance?

[jdurkin]

Based on our docs, the recommended method to upgrade an ISE appliance is to copy the upgrade file via network.   Is there a method to upgrade using a USB?  It's not documented anywhere for simple upgrades.

In the case of USB is needed, only Re-image is recommend using CIMC: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/ise/2-6/install_guide/b_ise_InstallationGuide26/b_ise_InstallationGuide_26_chapter_010.html

Thanks, 

Jim 

[Arne Bier · Accepted solution]

If you initiate an upgrade via CLI, then you have to tell ISE which repository you want to use. So the choices are:

ise01/admin(config-Repository)# url ?
  <WORD>  Enter repository URL, including server and path info (Max Size - 300)
  cdrom:  Local CD-ROM drive (read only)
  disk:   Local hard disk storage
  ftp:    URL using a FTP server
  http:   URL using a HTTP server (read only)
  https:  URL using a HTTPS server (read only)
  nfs:    URL using a NFS server
  sftp:   URL using a SFTP server
  tftp:   URL using a TFTP server

I don't see the USB in that list. And since the upgrade image is not an ISO file that you can mount via the CIMC to look like a cdrom, I guess there is no way to my knowledge how specifying the upgrade image to come via USB.   

Is there an issue with uploading the upgrade image to the ISE nodes?

Mounting the ISE installation ISO via USB is a very useful approach for a complete re-build of the appliance, since the vKVM method is certainly very cool, but it's very slow.

[jdurkin]

Thanks Arne.  My customer was exploring all options for upgrading ISE and I just wanted to confirm for them that the USB method is not possible.   There is no issue. 

Jim