F5CAB1 Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade Practice Question
A BIG-IP administrator is upgrading a standalone device from version 15.1.5 to 16.1.0 using an ISO image. The administrator mounts the ISO, runs the installation script, and reboots. After the reboot, the administrator notices that the management IP address is unchanged, but the configuration has been reset to default. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any ISO-based installation is an upgrade, when the script actually offers both upgrade and clean install options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The administrator performed a clean install instead of an upgrade.
The most likely cause is that the administrator selected the clean install option when running the installation script from the ISO. Unlike an upgrade, a clean install wipes the existing configuration and installs the new version with default settings. The management IP may persist if it was set outside the BIG-IP configuration, such as via the hypervisor or if manually reconfigured. To avoid this, administrators should choose the upgrade option and verify that the configuration is preserved.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The ISO image was corrupted, causing a partial upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted ISO would likely cause the installation to fail or produce errors, not result in a successful upgrade with a reset configuration. The symptom of a reset configuration with intact management IP is more consistent with a deliberate clean install. Corruption would typically prevent the system from booting or cause missing files, not a clean configuration.
- ✗
The administrator did not create a UCS backup before upgrading.
Why it's wrong here
Not creating a UCS backup does not cause the configuration to reset during an upgrade. The upgrade process itself preserves the configuration if performed correctly. A missing backup only means there is no fallback if something goes wrong. The reset indicates that the installation method used was not an upgrade but a clean install, regardless of backup status.
- ✗
The administrator forgot to run the 'load sys config' command after the upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
The 'load sys config' command is used to load a saved configuration from a file, not something that is automatically required after an upgrade. In a normal upgrade, the configuration is preserved and loaded automatically. If the configuration was reset, it is not due to forgetting to run this command; rather, it indicates that the configuration was not preserved during the installation process.
- ✓
The administrator performed a clean install instead of an upgrade.
Why this is correct
When using an ISO image, the installation script offers options for upgrade or clean install. If the administrator selected the clean install option, the existing configuration is erased and replaced with defaults. The management IP might persist if it was configured via the hypervisor or if the administrator manually set it, but the BIG-IP configuration is reset. This matches the symptom of configuration reset while management IP remains.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every F5CAB1 question from scratch — 80 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official F5 exam blueprint
This F5CAB1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free F5 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the F5CAB1 exam.