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 catalog through APIC running prior to release 4.x

Updated: July 12, 2026

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Configure catalog firmware upgrades or downgrades manually when the catalog image was not automatically updated with the APIC image.

The catalog is used by the upgrade compatibility check that can be turned on and off through Ignore Compatibility Check. The catalog image is embedded in an APIC image and is upgraded or downgraded when a Cisco APIC image is upgraded or downgraded. However, if for some reason the catalog image was not upgraded or downgraded along with the APIC image, there is an option to manually upgrade or downgraded the catalog. This procedure is rarely used and not available in the APIC GUI with later releases.

If you are downgrading the software on the Cisco APICs, the process is identical to the process for upgrading the software, except that the target release that you choose will be earlier than the currently installed release. The text for dialogs, fields, buttons, and other controls in the Cisco APIC GUI specify "upgrade" even though you are downgrading the software.

Procedure

1.

On the menu bar, choose ADMIN > Firmware. In the Navigation pane, click Catalog Firmware.
2.

In the Work pane, choose Actions > Change Catalog Firmware Policy.
3.

In the Change Catalog Firmware Policy dialog box, perform the following actions:

  1. In the Catalog Version field, choose the desired catalog firmware version.

  2. In the Apply Policy field, click the Apply now radio button to upgrade or downgrade the firmware immediately. Click Submit.

  3. In the Work pane, wait until the image displays that the Target Firmware version field matches the image version in the Current Firmware Version field.

    The Catalog version is now upgraded or downgraded.