Install NFVIS Using a USB Drive on Capable Platforms

Introduction

This document describes how to install Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) using a USB drive on supported hardware.

Prerequisites

These platforms only support NFV installation using USB drive:

• ENCS5104
• Catalyst 8200 uCPE
• Catalyst 8300 uCPE
• UCS M6

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information contained in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

• Platform C8200-UCPE-1N8
• Cisco_NFVIS-4.16.1-FC2.iso
• 32 GB  USB Memory
• 1 USB drive, preferably, v2.0 16/32GB

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Configure

1. Format the USB in FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32).

2. Connect the flash drive to your computer, open File Explorer (shortcut: Windows + E).

3. Right-click the drive you want to format and select Format. A new window is opened within the File System field, select FAT32.

4. Click start and confirm the operation. Once complete, the flash drive is formatted in FAT32.

Download rufus to convert your memory into a bootable usb memory: Rufus

Rufus is a tool for formatting USB drives and converting them into bootable media. Its main function is to take an image file, such as an .ISO file, and write it correctly to a USB drive so that it can be used as operating system installation or recovery media.

5. Download the respective Cisco NFVIS image.

6. Open Rufus software, and select the inserted USB.

Then, click the SELECT option, this opens your local storage. Select the image you are interested to install:

Select the partition scheme as GPT (UID Partition Table) and click start. Immediately after that, Rufus starts writing the image onto the USB. You can see a green progress bar at the bottom indicating completion status. It is likely that before the process start you see several windows asking for yes/no questions. You answer yes to all of them.

Here you find an example of how to find the USB port in each platform.

C8200 uCPE:

ENCS5104:

C8300 uCPE:

Once the memory is connected, you proceed to power cycle the device. Console connection is a must. It is very important to enter into the boot selection menu and select the USB drive as boot device. For this to happen, F6 key must be pressed once this prompt is observed:

Press <DEL> or <F2> to enter setup, <F6> Boot Menu, <F12> Network Boot

In case you configured a bios password as follows:

nfvis# hostaction change-bios-password newpassword <bios-password>

Please introduce it, otherwise, the system does not ask you for a password.

Choose the option that relates to the USB brand name.

Wait a couple of minutes for the GRUB installer must pop-up, the Install Cisco NFV Infrastructure Software option can be selected and executed automatically after a couple of seconds.

After that, the installation process starts, no more actions are needed.

Note: The installation process could take around 15-30 minutes. Once it is finished, you see the prompt of the host coming up, and you start the session with the default credentials.

nfvis login: console (automatin)
Cisco Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure Software (NFVIS)
NFVIS Version: 4.16.1-FC2

Copyright (c) 2015-2025 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco, Cisco Systems, and Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco
Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries.

<snip>

login: admin
Warning: Permanently added 'localhost' (ED25519) to the list of known hosts.
admin@localhost's password:

At this point, there are 2 options available: set your personalized password (recommended) or work with the default password (Admin123). For this example, you set a new password:

Setting admin password will disable zero touch deployment behaviors.
Do you wish to proceed? [y or n]y
Please provide a password which satisfies the following criteria:
        1. At least one lowercase character
        2. At least one uppercase character
        3. At least one number
        4. At least one special character from # _ - * ?
        5. Length should be between 7 and 128 characters
Please reset the password :
Please reenter the password :
 Resetting admin password
New admin password is set
string argument without an encoding

And this is it, you have installed your host correctly.

nfvis# show version
Cisco NFV Infrastructure Software
Version 4.16.1-FC2
Build date Thursday, December 12, 2024 [19:48:58 UTC]
Last Reboot Tuesday, June 03 [21:10]