F5CAB4 Control Plane Administration Practice Question
An administrator is preparing to upgrade the BIG-IP software on a device that is part of a high-availability pair. Before the upgrade, the administrator needs to ensure that the control plane configuration is backed up and can be restored if necessary. Which command should the administrator use to create a full configuration backup that includes both the configuration files and the license?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'save sys config' with 'save sys ucs'. The former only saves the configuration to files, while the latter creates a comprehensive backup archive.
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 /var/local/ucs/backup.ucs
To create a full configuration backup on a BIG-IP, the administrator should use 'tmsh save sys ucs <filename>'. This command generates a UCS archive that contains the configuration, license, and other critical files. It is the standard method for backup and restore, especially before major changes like software upgrades. Other commands like 'save sys config' only save the running configuration to text files and do not include the license.
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 save sys config
Why it's wrong here
The 'tmsh save sys config' command saves the current running configuration to the configuration files, such as /config/bigip.conf. However, it does not create a backup archive that includes the license file or other system files. It is useful for persisting changes but not for creating a full backup that can be used for disaster recovery or migration.
- ✓
tmsh save sys ucs /var/local/ucs/backup.ucs
Why this is correct
The 'tmsh save sys ucs <filename>' command creates a UCS (User Configuration Set) archive that includes the full configuration, license, and other system-specific files. This is the recommended way to back up a BIG-IP before an upgrade. The file is saved with a .ucs extension. This backup can be restored using 'tmsh load sys ucs <filename>' if needed.
- ✗
tmsh backup sys config /var/local/backup.tgz
Why it's wrong here
The command 'tmsh backup sys config' does not exist. The correct syntax for creating a backup is 'save sys ucs'. The word 'backup' is not a valid tmsh command in this context. Using this command will result in an error, and no backup will be created.
- ✗
tmsh create sys backup
Why it's wrong here
There is no 'tmsh create sys backup' command. The correct command to create a full backup is 'tmsh save sys ucs <filename>'. The 'create' verb is not used for backups. This option is a distractor that might seem plausible but does not exist in tmsh.
About these practice questions
This F5CAB4 question is part of Courseiva's 40-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam 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 F5CAB4 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 F5CAB4 exam.