F5CAB1 Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade Practice Question
An administrator is preparing to install a new version of BIG-IP software on a device running an older version. Before starting the installation, the administrator wants to ensure that the existing configuration is backed up and can be restored if needed. Which tool should the administrator use to create a full configuration backup that includes all configuration files and can be used for restoration?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the command to save the running configuration with the command to create a full backup archive; the former persists changes, while the latter creates a restorable UCS file.
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
✓
tmsh save sys ucs <filename>
The tmsh save sys ucs command is the correct tool for creating a full configuration backup on a BIG-IP system. It generates a UCS archive that includes all configuration files, licenses, and certificates, allowing for complete restoration. This is essential before an upgrade to ensure that the system can be recovered if the upgrade fails or if there are issues with the new version.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
tmsh create sys backup
Why it's wrong here
The tmsh create sys backup command is not a valid tmsh command. While there is a backup utility in tmsh, the correct syntax involves using the 'save sys ucs' command. This option is a distractor because it sounds plausible but does not exist. Administrators should be familiar with the correct command structure for creating backups in tmsh.
- ✗
tmsh load sys config
Why it's wrong here
The tmsh load sys config command loads the configuration from the stored configuration files, but it does not create a backup. It is used to apply configuration changes or to reload the configuration after manual edits. Using this command before an upgrade would not provide a backup; it would simply reload the current configuration, which is not the goal here.
- ✗
tmsh save sys config
Why it's wrong here
The tmsh save sys config command saves the current running configuration to the configuration files, but it does not create a full backup archive that includes all necessary files for restoration. It is used to persist configuration changes, not for backup purposes. This command would not provide a complete backup that can be used to restore the system to its previous state after an upgrade or reinstallation.
- ✓
tmsh save sys ucs <filename>
Why this is correct
The tmsh save sys ucs command creates a User Configuration Set (UCS) backup, which includes all configuration files, licenses, and other system-specific data. This UCS file can be used to restore the system to its previous state if needed. It is the recommended method for backing up a BIG-IP configuration before an upgrade or major change, as it captures the entire configuration in a single archive.
About these practice questions
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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.