Change default boot file on ASA

[Shane.Toumey]

Hello,

Is there a way to get an ASA to load a different default .bin file after a factory reset?  For example, I have a 5505.  After performing a factory reset on it, it boots to asa724-k8.bin which produces a number of errors during the boot process and also changes a command or two that I need to use to configure it.  I'd rather it boot from asa924-k8.bin which is also loaded on the device.  Once it loads to 724, I can fairly easily switch it to 924, but I'd like to know if there is a way to change this behavior "permanently."

Any help is appreciated.

-Shane

[GRANT3779]

You can manually set the boot image with the following command in configuration mode - assuming this is location of .bin file

boot system disk0:/asa924-k8.bin

I would then look at the output of the following command.

sh run boot

Ensure the image you want to load is the first one listed.

To permanently have it load the new image if the above is not what you are looking for is to remove the older .bin file from flash, leaving only the new .bin image. Make sure there are no boot commands referencing older image. The ASA should then boot using first image it finds in flash memory.

[Shane.Toumey]

So after a factory reset, I'm guessing it goes in alphabetical order when looking for a boot file?  Is it possible to rename the .bin files then so the one I wanted showed up and loaded first?

[GRANT3779 · Accepted solution]

After a factory reset I believe the ASA will look through internal flash and load first boot image it finds.

Best way to see which one would be to check dir flash:

Renaming may work, just ensure the new image is listed in the flash before the old one. It's a first find, first load. My understanding anyways if no boot variable is set.

[Shane.Toumey]

So when I did dir flash, asa724-k8.bin was indeed showing up before asa924-k8.bin.  I ended up having to rename the 724 file (just put a 2 in front of it) and that put it at the bottom of the list.  Afterwards I did a factory reset and 924 loaded first.

Thanks for the help.

For anyone else that finds this, the command is pretty simple:

rename flash:/asa724-k8.bin flash/2asa724-k8.bin

[Shane.Toumey]

Reminder too, if you rename the file(s) in this way, be sure to update your boot commands.  In my case it's now:

boot system flash:/asa924-k8.bin
boot system flash:/2asa724-k8.bin