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OttimoMassimo_1's avatar
OttimoMassimo_1
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May 28, 2012

Downgrade from BIG-IP 10.2.3 to 9.4.7

Hi,

 

 

 

We have successfully downgraded an LTM from 10.2.1 to 9.4.7 in the past.

 

 

 

Has anybody completed a similar process from BIG-IP 10.2.3 to 9.4.7? If so, did you run into any issues?

 

 

 

Is the following command format still valid?

 

image2disk --format=partitions BIGIP-10.2.3.112.0.iso

 

 

 

We cobbled together the process form a couple of knowledge base documents. Is one master document available for this procedure?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

17 Replies

  • I have a few suggestions:

     

     

    1. To create the 9.4.7 USB drive, I have found that it works best when done from a unit that is already running 9.4.7. Your problem might be the fact you are trying to make a 9.4.7 usb drive on a bigip running 10.x code? Example: In my lab, I would use a box running 9.4.7 to create the 9.4.7 USB drive using the 9.4.7 IM file.

     

     

    2. Even though its specified that the mkdisk utility is used for version 9.4.7 and up , which in your case, you are going to 9.4.7, so it should work, I would also try the umdinstall utility.

     

     

    "Beginning in BIG-IP version 9.4.7, the umdinstall utility is no longer supported and has been removed from the BIG-IP installation image files. F5 recommends using the mkdisk utility on a BIG-IP system or a Linux-based system to load a BIG-IP installation image onto a USB mass storage device."

     

     

     

    3. I have found that some USB drives work better than others. (I have had good results with kingston)
  • Thanks for the suggestions Nathan.

     

     

    In the end I rolled the units back to 10.1.0 (booting from USB) and formatted to partitions. I then rolled the units back to 9.4.7 using a .im image uploaded to /var/tmp/.

     

     

    I found the following documents (amongst others) very useful:

     

    http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/products/big-ip_ltm/releasenotes/umd_make_install_9_4_x.html

     

    http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/10000/800/sol10819.html?sr=21720078

     

    http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/6000/800/sol6845.htmldownloading

     

     

    Thanks again for the replies and help!

     

  • Hi,

     

     

    I know it's been a while but could you let me know if you can remember how you got it to format using partitions when booting from USB? Everytime I try it just forces the disk config to volumes.

     

     

    Thank you

     

  • I know it's been a while but could you let me know if you can remember how you got it to format using partitions when booting from USB? Everytime I try it just forces the disk config to volumes.isn't "diskinit --style partitions" usable?

     

     

    sol10819: Performing a clean installation of BIG-IP version 10.x or Enterprise Manager version 2.x

     

    http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/10000/800/sol10819.html
  • That worked a treat, thank you.

     

     

    I've having a similar issue and need to downgrade to 9.4.3, only problem is that the USB made following the instructions for Windows: http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/products/big-ip_ltm/releasenotes/umdinstall_9_4_3.html goes through the process, but the BigIP (3400) won't boot from it. It's recognised but nothing gets booted...on with the fun!

     

  • Hi,

     

     

    have you followed the instructions here: http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/products/big-ip_ltm/releasenotes/umdinstall_9_4_3.htmlrun

     

     

    Unfortunately, I cannot track down my captures form my work. I was also using 1600 series devices.
  • have you tried another usb thumb?

     

     

    sol7088: Hardware requirements for the USB thumb-drive installation

     

    http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/7000/000/sol7088