Customized configuration settings for a network appliance

A method comprising:

• detecting an external storage device coupled to an interface of a network appliance, wherein the network appliance is running in accordance with an original operating state as dictated by internal configuration settings stored in an internal memory of the network appliance;
• responsive to the detecting:
• loading customized configuration settings stored in the external storage device;
• configuring the network applicance in accordance with the customized confuguration settings;
• and
• performing a predetermined function based on the customized confuguration settings.

A network appliance system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a communication interface device;
• one or more internal data storage devices operatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
• internal configuration settings;
• an external storage device detection module that, when executed by the one or more processors, indicates whether an external storage device is coupled to the communication interface device, wherein the external storage device stores customized configuration settings;
• a load customized configuration settings module that, when executed by the one or more processors responsive to detecting the external storage device, loads system configuration settings from the customized configuration settings;
• a load internal configuration settings module that, when executed by the one or more processors responsive to detecting an absence of the external storage device, loads system configuration settings from the internal configuration settings;
• a run configuration settings module that, when executed by the one or more processors, configures the network appliance system in accordance with the loaded system configuration settings.