F5CAB1 Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade Practice Question
An administrator is preparing to upgrade a BIG-IP system from version 15.1 to 16.1. The administrator wants to ensure that the upgrade process completes successfully and that the configuration is preserved. Which action should be taken before starting the upgrade?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that saving the configuration or disabling virtual servers is sufficient, when the critical steps are creating a full backup and checking compatibility.
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
✓
Create a UCS backup and verify that the current configuration is compatible with the target version.
Creating a UCS backup and verifying compatibility are essential pre-upgrade steps. The UCS backup allows restoration if the upgrade fails, and compatibility checks help identify issues that could prevent a successful upgrade. These actions ensure that the configuration is preserved and the upgrade proceeds smoothly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable all virtual servers to prevent traffic during the upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling virtual servers is not required before an upgrade and would cause an outage. The upgrade process itself will reboot the system, so traffic will be disrupted regardless. The administrator should schedule a maintenance window instead. Disabling virtual servers does not contribute to upgrade success or configuration preservation.
- ✗
Run the 'tmsh save sys config' command to save the current configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This command saves the running configuration to the configuration files, but it does not create a backup that can be used for rollback. While saving the configuration is good practice, it is not sufficient for ensuring a successful upgrade. The administrator should also create a full UCS backup and verify compatibility.
- ✗
Install the new version on a different partition and then copy the configuration files manually.
Why it's wrong here
BIG-IP upgrades are performed by installing the new version to an inactive partition, but the configuration is migrated automatically during the upgrade process. Manually copying configuration files is error-prone and not supported. The administrator should use the standard upgrade process, which includes configuration migration and validation.
- ✓
Create a UCS backup and verify that the current configuration is compatible with the target version.
Why this is correct
This is correct because a UCS backup captures the entire configuration and can be used to restore the system if the upgrade fails. Verifying compatibility ensures that deprecated features or unsupported configurations do not cause the upgrade to fail. This step is critical for a successful upgrade and for preserving the configuration.
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.