Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Software Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 10.6(x)

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Convert a Nexus 9000 Series switch from NX-OS to ACI boot mode

Updated: February 5, 2026

Overview

Use this procedure to convert a Nexus 9000 Series switch from NX-OS mode to ACI boot mode.

You can convert any Nexus 9000 Series switch from NX-OS to Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) boot mode.

Note

When converting any switch from NX-OS (standalone) to ACI boot mode, you can delete the NX-OS image from the bootflash to save space.

Before you begin

The prerequisites to convert to ACI boot mode include:

  • Verify whether your switch hardware is supported in ACI boot mode by checking the Supported Hardware section of the Release Notes for Nexus 9000 Series ACI-Mode Switches. For example, line cards are not compatible between NX-OS and ACI boot mode.

  • Remove or turn off any unsupported modules (using the poweroff module module command). Otherwise, the software uses a recovery and retry mechanism before it powers down the unsupported modules. This can cause delays in the conversion process.

  • For dual-supervisor systems, use the show module command to make sure that the standby supervisor module is in the ha-standby state.

  • Verify that the Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) is running Release 1.0(2j) or a later release.

  • Make sure that the ACI image is 11.0(2x) or a later release.

  • Use the show install all impact epld epld-image-name command to verify that the switch does not require any EPLD image upgrades. If any upgrades are required, follow the instructions in the Nexus 9000 Series FPGA/EPLD Upgrade Release Notes.

Procedure

1.

Verify that the switch is running the latest release.

Example:

switch(config)# show version

NX-OS file names begin with nxos.

2.

Copy the ACI image from the APIC:

  1. Set the IP address on the mgmt0 interface of the switch to allow connectivity between this interface and the APIC.

  2. Enable Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) services on the switch.

    Example:

    switch(config)# feature scp-server

  3. From the APIC command line interface, use SCP to copy the firmware image from the APIC to the active supervisor module on the switch.

    Example:

    admin@apic1:aci> scp -r /firmware/fwrepos/fwrepo/switch-image-name admin@switch-ip-address:switch-image-name

  4. For dual supervisor systems, copy the ACI image to the standby supervisor module.

    Example:

    switch(config)# copy bootflash:aci-image bootflash://sup-standby/
3.

Follow these steps to boot to the ACI image:

  1. Configure the switch to not boot from NX-OS.

    Example:

    switch(config)# no boot nxos

  2. Save the configuration.

    Example:

    switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config
    Note

    You must run the copy running-config startup-config command prior to booting the ACI image. Do not run it after you enter the boot aci command.

  3. Boot the active and standby supervisor modules with the ACI image.

    Example:

    switch(config)# boot aci bootflash:aci-image-name
    Caution

    Do not enter the copy running-config startup-config command after the boot aci command. If you do, the switch goes to the loader> prompt.

  4. Verify the integrity of the file by displaying the MD5 checksum.

    Example:

    switch(config)# show file bootflash:aci-image-name md5sum

  5. Reload the switch.

    Example:

    switch(config)# reload

  6. Log in to the switch as an administrator.

    Example:

    Login: admin
4.

Verify whether you must install certificates for your device.

Example:

admin@apic1:aci> openssl asn1parse -in /securedata/ssl/server.crt

Look for PRINTABLESTRING in the command output. If Manufacturing CA is listed, the correct certificates are installed. If something else is listed, contact TAC to generate and install the correct certificates for your device.

Note

You might need to install certificates for Nexus 9000 Series switches that were shipped prior to May 2014.

To run this command, contact TAC.

What to do next

Refer to the ACI and APIC documentation to configure and operate the switch in ACI mode: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/cloud-systems-management/application-policy-infrastructure-controller-apic/tsd-products-support-series-home.html.