Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Upgrade Guide

Configure a remote file server for firmware upgrade images

Updated: July 1, 2026

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Configures a remote file server to store firmware upgrade images. This process establishes connectivity to an external repository to enable the firmware upgrade workflow.

A remote file server is a network-accessible storage location that hosts firmware upgrade files for device maintenance.

Supports secure file transfer protocols for image retrieval.
Requires specific network and authentication parameters for integration.
Enables centralized management of firmware versions across the network.

Note

For cellular firmware upgrades, we recommend hosting the firmware image files on a remote server and selecting the server and firmware image path in the firmware upgrade workflow. Ensure that the remote server is configured in Cisco SD-WAN Manager and reachable by the devices.

Before you begin

This section provides information about configuring a remote server for firmware upgrade images, for the firmware upgrade use case. For information about configuring a remote server for storing device software upgrade images, see Register Remote Server in the Manage Software Upgrade and Repository section of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide.

Procedure

From the Cisco SD-WAN Manager menu, choose Maintenance > Software Repository and click Remote Server .

Click Add Remote Server and enter the following fields:

Table 1. Remote Server Configuration Fields
Field	Description
Server Name	Enter a name for the file server with the firmware upgrade files.
Server IP or DNS Name	IP address or DNS name of the file server.
Protocol	Choose the SCP protocol.
Port	Enter the port that you have configured for the remote server. Default (for SCP): 22
User ID, Password	Enter the login credentials for the file server.
Image Location Prefix	Enter the path to the directory storing the firmware upgrade files, or enter / by itself, which enables you to specify the path while executing the Firmware Upgrade workflow.
VPN	Enter the VPN that you have configured for reaching the remote server interface.

Click Add .

What to do next

Note

For information about configuring a remote server for storing device software upgrade images, see Register Remote Server in the Manage Software Upgrade and Repository section of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide .

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