What Is USB-based Deployment?

Files Required for USB-based Deployment

There are two types of files for USB-based deployment: index file and other deployment files. An index file is mandatory and is used to guide device deployment. Deployment files that need to be loaded during device deployment include the system software, configuration file, license file, patch file, user-defined file, and feature package. These files need to be selected based on the site requirements. For example, when a new device is deployed, no patch file needs to be loaded.

An index file defines all information required for device deployment, such as the deployment files to be loaded and the path where these deployment files are stored. The index file consists of some fixed fields, which have different meanings. The format of the index file is fixed, and the file name and file name extension are also fixed. The name of an index file for USB-based deployment varies according to the product. For example, the name of the index file for USB-based deployment of an AR router is fixed as USB_AR.ini or usb_ar.ini. For details about how to make an index file, see Making an Index File.

USB-based Deployment Process

The USB-based deployment process is simple and consists of two phases: deployment preparation and site deployment. The deployment preparation is complex, which needs to be completed by software engineers. Before deployment, software engineers need to make the following preparations:

• Prepare a PC for making an index file.
• Prepare a file server for downloading deployment files such as the system software and configuration file.
• Prepare a USB flash drive to store the index file and deployment files.

The index file is generally prepared by software engineers. A USB flash drive can be used to deploy multiple devices one by one or at the same time. The methods of making an index file in the two modes are different. For details, see Making an Index File.

After making an index file, the software engineer saves it to the root directory of the USB flash drive. The software engineer also needs to download deployment files such as the system software and configuration file and save them in the path specified by the DIRECTORY field in the index file. If a USB flash drive is used to deploy multiple devices and the devices use different configuration files, the software engineer needs to save the configuration file of each device to the USB flash drive and specify the configuration file to be loaded for each device in the index file. In this way, each device reads its own configuration file based on the index file during deployment. The software engineer then hands over the USB flash drive to the deployment personnel.

During site deployment, the deployment personnel power on devices in the warehouse, insert the USB flash drive, and start the deployment. After detecting the USB flash drive, the devices read the index file, parse fields in the index file, obtain deployment files from the USB flash drive based on the parsing result, and save the files. After verifying and decompressing the deployment files, the devices set the deployment files as the system startup files. The files are activated upon automatic device restart. The deployment personnel can observe the USB, SYS, or ACT indicator to check the deployment status. For example, if the indicator is steady green, USB-based deployment succeeds. When the indicator is steady green, the deployment personnel can remove the USB flash drive to complete the deployment. The following figure shows the USB-based deployment process.

USB-based deployment process