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

PDF

Downgrade to an earlier software release

Updated: February 5, 2026

Overview

Use this procedure to safely downgrade a Nexus 9000 switch to an earlier NX-OS release by verifying software and hardware compatibility, copying the correct image file, disabling unsupported features, saving configurations, and performing the downgrade using the install all command. Always review the release notes for any specific exceptions or prerequisites before starting the process.

The downgrade of Nexus 9000 switches involves using the supported install all command to revert to an earlier NX-OS software release, ensuring compatibility by checking for software and hardware incompatibilities, disabling unsupported features, and following a structured procedure including saving configurations and reloading the switch.

Note

Downgrade from releases 10.5(1)F, 10.5(2)F, or 10.5(3)F to 10.4(6)F and later 10.4(x) releases are not supported and can result in configuration corruption. If downgrade is needed, upgrade first to 10.5(4)M or later releases and then downgrade to 10.4(6)F and later 10.4(x) releases. See CSCwr21007 in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes, Release 10.4(6)M.

Note
If an error message appears during the downgrade, the downgrade fails due to the indicated reason. See the appropriate version of the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Troubleshooting Guide for a list of possible causes and solutions.

Before you begin

Read the release notes for the software image file for any exceptions to this downgrade procedure. For information about software image file, see the appropriate version of the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes.

Procedure

1.

Log in to the device on the console port connection.

2.

Verify the software image file and copy it to the active supervisor module.

  1. Verify that the image file for the downgrade is present on the active supervisor module bootflash.

    Example:

    switch# dir bootflash:

    If the software image file is not present, log in and choose the software image file for your device from the http://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html URL, and download it to a file server.

    Note

    If you need more space on the active or standby supervisor module bootflash, use the delete command to remove unnecessary files.

  2. Copy the software image to the active supervisor module using a transfer protocol. You can use FTP, TFTP, SCP, or SFTP.

    Example:

    switch# copy scp://user@scpserver.cisco.com//download/nxos.9.2.1.bin
bootflash:nxos.9.2.1.bin
3.

Check for any incompatibilities.

  1. Check for any software incompatibilities.

    Example:

    switch# show incompatibility-all nxos bootflash:nxos.9.2.1.bin
Checking incompatible configuration(s) 
No incompatible configurations

    The resulting output displays any incompatibilities and remedies.

  2. Check for any hardware incompatibilities.

    Example:

    switch# show install all impact nxos bootflash:nxos.9.2.1.bin
4.

Mitigate incompatibilities.

  1. Disable any features that are incompatible with the downgrade image.

  2. Power off any unsupported modules.

    Example:

    switch# poweroff module module-number
5.

Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.

Example:

switch# copy running-config startup-config
6.

Downgrade the NX-OS software using the install all nxos bootflash <nxos_image_to_downgrade> command.

Note
If you enter the install all command without specifying a filename, the command performs a compatibility check, notifies you of the modules that will be upgraded, and confirms that you want to continue with the installation. If you choose to proceed, it installs the NXOS software image that is currently running on the switch and upgrades the BIOS of various modules from the running image if required.
7.

(Optional) Display the entire downgrade process.

Example:

switch# show install all status
8.

(Optional) Log in and verify that the device is running the required software version.

Example:

switch# show version