Cisco APIC Installation and ACI Upgrade and Downgrade Guide

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Cisco APIC Installation and ACI Upgrade and Downgrade Guide

Upgrade or downgrade the Cisco APIC software using the NX-OS Style CLI

Updated: July 12, 2026

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Upgrades or downgrades the Cisco APIC software using the NX-OS style command line interface. This procedure ensures the controller cluster remains available during the process.

Procedure

1.

Download the image from the source into the controller.

Example:

apic1# scp <username>@<Host IP address that has the image>:/<absolute path to the image including image file name>  .
                        apic1# pwd
                        /home/admin
                        apic1# ls
                        <ver-no>.bin
2.

Display the repository information.

Example:


                        apic1# 
                        show firmware repository
3.

Add the firmware image to the repository.


                        apic1# 
                        firmware repository add <name of the image file>

Example:


                        apic1# 
                        firmware repository add aci-apic-dk9.2.0.1r.iso
4.

Configure the controllers for upgrade or downgrade.


                        apic# 
                        configure
                        apic1(config)# 
                        firmware
                        apic1(config-firmware)# 
                        controller-group
                        apic1(config-firmware-controller)# 
                        firmware-version <name of the image file>

Example:


                        apic# 
                        configure
                        apic1(config)# 
                        firmware
                        apic1(config-firmware)# 
                        controller-group
                        apic1(config-firmware-controller)# 
                        firmware-version aci-apic-dk9.2.2.2e.bin
5.

Upgrade or downgrade the controller.

Example:


                        apic1(config-firmware-controller)# 
                        exit
                        apic1(config-firmware)# 
                        exit
                        apic1(config)# 
                        exit
                        apic1# 
                        firmware upgrade controller-group

The Cisco APIC s are upgraded or downgraded serially so that the controller cluster is available during the upgrade or downgrade. The upgrade or downgrade occurs in the background.

6.

Verify the upgrade or downgrade for the controller.

Example:


                        apic1# 
                        show firmware upgrade status
                        Pod         Node        Current-Firmware      Target-Firmware       Status                     Upgrade-Progress(%) 
                        ----------  ----------  --------------------  --------------------  -------------------------  --------------------
                        1           1           apic-2.3(0.376a)                            success                    100                 
                        1           2           apic-2.3(0.376a)                            success                    100                 
                        1           3           apic-2.3(0.376a)                            success                    100                 
                        1           101         n9000-12.3(0.102)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     success                    100                 
                        1           102         n9000-12.3(0.102)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     success                    100                 
                        1           103         n9000-12.3(0.100)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     upgrade in progress        5                   
                        1           104         n9000-12.3(0.102)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     success                    100                 
                        1           201         n9000-12.3(0.102)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     success                    100                 
                        1           202         n9000-12.3(0.100)     n9000-12.3(0.102)     upgrade in progress        5                   
                        apic1#