Flash cards - Industry standard flash?

[phoneguy01]

Hi,

Are the Cisco compact flash cards used in routers like the 2811 and 6500 series just simple industry standard compact flash cards? For example, like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...h&ci=1097&at=Brand_SanDisk&basicSubmit=Submit

Now, I realize there are different size (amount of memory) cards and newer cards with really fast write speeds, but I'm just curious if really all those flash cards are that Cisco sells is nothing more than a plain ole compact flash card that you could throw into a digital SLR camera or a compact flash card reader on a PC. I'm thinking they are, but would like your opinion especially if you've had some experience in buying your own cards (higher capacity) and using them without problems in your routers. To me, I don't know what could be unique about the cards Cisco sells unless they're preinstalling some files on there that the router needs that you yourself would not be allowed to download and install yourself...and then if you buy your own cards and put the usual Cisco software you'd have access to on the card and try to use it, you're screwed. Just a theory. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[phoneguy01]

P.S. I can see certain sized cards not being compatible (the large 8GB or 16GB cards and so on), but in general, for a 1 or 2 GB card...just curious if those standard compact flash cards work in the routers.

 

[Alterac]

I have used standard 256mb and 512mb cards in my routers.
You need to format the card using the router though.

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Bill

 

[phoneguy01]

I figured they'd work . I'm not sure what the size limit is and I doubt Cisco's documentation will tell us, but that's good to know. I would assume if the size of the card you attempt to use is not supported, it wouldn't be recognized or be able to be formatted.