Need clarification on attaching usb thumb drive to switch/router

[sdavids5670]

Does a usb thumb drive need to be attached to the usb port at bootup for the usbx: to be present at the CLI or should I be able to connnect/disconnect a thumb drive to switch at any time to access files?  I have a WS-C4500X-32 that's not seeing the usb0: drive though I have a thumb drive connected.  Or is there something I need to do at the CLI to initialize the usbx: disk?

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Don't know for 4500X but on many other Cisco devices, just inserting the USB drive is sufficient, although often there's limitations on how the USB is formatted, its capacity and/or brand.

[Wilson Bonilla · Accepted solution]

Hello

Just like a compact flash, the usb driver can be connected at any moment, that shouldn't be a problem.

Please check compatibility, 4500x supports usb-x45-4gb-e usb driver, please check compatibility

USB ports

USB Type A interface (top connector) provides access to an external USB FLASH device (also known as a thumb drive or a USB key). The interface supports the 4-GB Cisco USB flash drive (Cisco part no. USB-X45-4GB-E). The Cisco IOS software provides standard file system access to the flash device: read, write, erase, and copy, as well as formatting of the flash device with a FAT file system. You can boot the switch from the USB drive Note Currently, there is no support for the USB B-port (bottom connector).

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500x/installation/notes/OL_24795.html

Regards.

Wilson B.

[sdavids5670]

Thanks for the help.  I was trying to use a thumb drive that wasn't compatible.  Mine was 16 GB.  When I plugged a 2 GB drive in the usb port it came right up and I was able to access it.  Thanks!

[Wilson Bonilla]

Glad to hear it worked.

Regards.

Wilson B