Manual Chapter : BIG-IQ System Management

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IQ ADC

  • 4.5.0

BIG-IQ Cloud

  • 4.5.0

BIG-IQ Device

  • 4.5.0

BIG-IQ Security

  • 4.5.0
Manual Chapter

Installing and upgrading BIG-IQ System software

Before you perform an initial BIG-IQ System software installation, or software upgrade, you must perform the following tasks:

  • Activate, or reactivate, your current license to ensure that you have a valid service check date.
  • Download the ISO file for the upgrade from F5 Downloads to /shared/images on BIG-IQ System. If you need to create this directory, use the exact name /shared/images.
  • For upgrades only, create a backup of the user configuration set (UCS), locate it in the /var/local/ucs directory on the source installation location, and copy the UCS file to another system for safe keeping.
Use this procedure when you are ready to perform an initial BIG-IQ System software installation or upgrade a to a more recent software version.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ System with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Configuration.
  3. On the BIG-IQ Systems panel, expand Management Group or HA Peer Group by clicking the arrow next to it.
  4. Click the gear icon next to localhost, and then click Properties.
  5. Click Software Update.
  6. Click the Update button.
  7. From the Software Image list, select the new image or browse to the location to which you saved it.
  8. From the Install Location list, select the volume to which you want to install the image.
  9. For the Options setting, select one:
    • To automatically reboot the BIG-IQ System to the specified volume immediately after the software is installed, select Reboot after Live Install.
    • To manually reboot the BIG-IQ System at another time from the System > Properties screen, select Set Default Boot Location.
  10. Click the Apply button.
BIG-IQ System installs the selected software. For upgrades, BIG-IQ System also rolls forward the UCS file.

About UCS files

The configuration details of managed devices (including the BIG-IQ system itself) are contained in a compressed user configuration set (UCS) file. The UCS file contains all of the information required to restore a device's configuration, such as:

  • System-specific configuration files
  • License
  • User account and password information
  • SSL certificates and keys

You can back up devices at regularly scheduled intervals and select the amount of time to save the backups.

Creating a backup UCS file

It is best practice to create a backup of the UCS file for each device in your network, including the BIG-IQ system itself, on a regular basis and before performing a software upgrade. The UCS file backup provides your network with added stability in the event that a system needs to be restored.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ System with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Configuration.
  3. Hover over the Backups panel header, click the + sign when it appears, and then click Add Backup.
  4. In the Name and Description fields, type a file name and description to identify this UCS backup file. The file name you define in the Name field must include the extension .ucs.
  5. From the Device list, select the device for which you want to create the UCS file backup.
  6. If you want to include the SSL private keys in the backup file, select the Include Private Keys check box.
  7. To encrypt the backup file, select the Encrypt Backup Files check box.
  8. Click the Create button
  9. To view the status of the backup or change its description, click the gear icon.
This UCS backup file is now available for restoration.