Automatically Restore a Backup Image from a USB Drive

In Fireware 12.3 and higher, if a USB drive or storage device is connected to a Firebox in recovery mode, the Firebox can automatically restore a backup image from the USB drive.

To use the auto-restore feature, you must first select a backup image on the USB drive as the image to restore when your Firebox starts in recovery mode. You can use Fireware Web UI, Firebox System Manager, or Fireware command line interface to select this backup image. This feature is not supported on Firebox Cloud, FireboxV, and XTMv devices.

Do not use a backup image created from a different Firebox for auto-restore. The auto-restore backup image is unique to a single Firebox, and includes the serial number, certificates, and private keys unique to that Firebox.

Select the Backup Image to Auto-Restore

When you designate a backup image to restore automatically, a copy of the backup image file is encrypted and saved on the USB drive with the file name auto-restore.fxi. The backup image file is saved in a subdirectory for your Firebox model below the \auto-restore\ directory. For example, \auto-restore\T35\auto-restore.fxi.

When you save a backup image to a connected USB drive, you can choose whether to include the Fireware OS in the backup image. The backup image you select for auto-restore must include the Fireware OS. The Firebox cannot automatically restore a backup image that does not include the Fireware OS.

You can select only one auto-restore backup image for each Firebox model on each USB drive. If an auto-restore backup image already exists on the USB drive for your Firebox model, it is overwritten when you select a different backup image for auto-restore.

The backup image you select for auto-restore must have been saved to the connected USB drive from Fireware 12.3 or higher. The Firebox cannot automatically restore a backup image that was saved to a USB drive from Fireware 12.2.1 or lower.

If you previously saved an auto-restore backup image on the USB drive, the existing auto-restore.fxi file is replaced with a copy of the backup image you selected.

If your Firebox previously used a version of Fireware OS lower than v11.3, you must update the recovery mode software image on the device to v11.3 for the auto-restore feature to operate. For upgrade instructions, see the Fireware XTM 11.3 Release Notes.

Auto-Restore the Backup Image

To auto-restore the selected backup image, you must start your Firebox in recovery mode. When you start the Firebox in recovery mode, it verifies that the USB drive includes a valid auto-restore image for the Firebox. If the USB drive contains a valid auto-restore image for the Firebox, the Firebox automatically restores the backup image and reboots.

Backup images saved on your Firebox are removed when you reset the device. Before you reset a Firebox, we recommend that you export a recent backup image from the Firebox. For more information, go to Export a Backup Image Stored on the Firebox.

If the USB drive does not contain a valid auto-restore image, the auto-restore fails and the Firebox does not reboot. If the auto-restore process is not successful, you must power off and then power on the Firebox to start it with factory-default settings. For information about factory-default settings, go to About Factory-Default Settings.

Related Topics

Use a USB Drive for System Backup and Restore