Work are chucking out a "Cisco 887VA-M" integrated services router.
Anyone know if I can install some custom OS/firmware via the USB on the back?
I expect this is just e-waste but maybe it has some use as emergency switch :)
Depending on how old it is it may be a good space heater.
Foot warmer for under your desk
Anyone know if I can install some custom OS/firmware via the USB on the back?
No, Cisco uses their own silicon in that unit which means things like Tomato or Wrtt(?) Won't load onto it.
Best you can do is take it to an ewaste or sell it to a second hand Cisco reseller for maybe €75 if you are lucky.
Damn. Does Cisco use their own silicon anymore or are many modern units able to run Tomato/Wrtt?
The modern stuff uses signed bootloaders, ie secureboot. Afaik there’s no custom OS’s for C9k or Nexus gear.
With enough time and motivation it's probably possible, but that holds for many things.
See if you can find the chinese backdoor on it.
Not much unless you want to learn how Cisco works.
My limited understanding is Cisco stuff is very blackbox/proprietary. I'd sooner spend time learning how to hack them out of spite ;)
That's true, but because of that you can get Cisco certifications, which could be helpful if you end up in an network related job. Those certifications will also give you a lot of knowledge of how networks work. (I'm currently completing a CCNA, and quite enjoy it)
A few other companies also clone the Cisco CLI, so there's that too. I wouldn't touch the Web UI if it has one though.
Most are similar enough, Avaya is pretty close.
Welcome to networking! It's a trip I'll tell you what, especially when you get a job at a place with decade old network configs and get told to upgrade it while the group that uses it fights you tooth and nail.
Well it says it's PoE
That's neat, not had that before. All that comes to mind is a LAN security camera system.
Security cameras with a central continuous recording system + alerts and automations… plenty of fun to be had. Also wifi access points on poe depending on the interface speed. Got those 2 at home and it has been a treat so far.
Nice. Just received my parcels today for this fun. Can’t wait for tomorrow and toy around.
You can get PoE to USB adapters as well which simplifies wiring to random IoT hubs you may have.
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It being a 100 Mbps ("Fast" Ethernet) switched router, it's really only useful for devices that don't need or use more than 100 Mbps network speed, so like PoE IoT devices perhaps.
As far as I know that is still "fast" here in the UK 😅
On my 40/10 line, it's got way more bandwidth then the VDSL has
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If it doesn't have Gigabit ports (minimum), it's useless. Judging by that USB 1.1 port, I wouldn't hold my breath.
Anything Cisco that says FE is 10/100mbit.
FE for FastEthernet, right?
Yep.
You can use it as a VDSL modem if you have FTTC internet
