topic Re: Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu? in General Topics

Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu?

RemoteUser — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 07:54:49 GMT

Hi everyone, I have a question
I hope it's not a stupid one.

Instead of downloading the ISO, flashing it to a USB drive, plugging it into the firewall, rebooting, and then accessing the boot menu to do a fresh install…
Wouldn't it be possible to have an automatic option directly from the boot menu to handle all of this?

Basically, a built-in feature that lets you reinstall the system from scratch without needing external media?

Thanks!

Re: Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu?

Chris_Atkinson — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:29:53 GMT

Factory reset is the only option for this that doesn't have external requirements / dependencies but does assume the system has the correct image to default to. What type of appliance is this and have you attempted / considered to image it via the LOM?

Re: Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu?

RemoteUser — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 08:59:02 GMT

just out of curiosity, factory reset restore the appliance to the version stored as the factory image.

A fresh install via USB will format and repartition the hard drive. and it's better IMO.

Re: Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu?

Chris_Atkinson — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:19:54 GMT

Yes but you've indicated you don't wish to use USB.

As above is the LOM method an option for you?

Re: Fresh Install Without USB, Possible From Boot Menu?

Alex- — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:46:57 GMT

You can also use the baseline/Blink image of your choice and do Clean install on the firewall. That's one step below the USB method if you want to repartition and so on but at least you're not back to the factory image.