NX-OS Software Downgrade Impact Check
Short answer
A The pre-downgrade impact check shows the features that will be automatically removed from the switch configuration.
Question
Key Takeaways
The NX-OS pre-downgrade
show install all impactcheck lists features that will be removed or disabled because they are unsupported in the target image, letting the admin act beforehand.
Before a Nexus software downgrade, the install impact / incompatibility check reports which features will be automatically removed or disabled in the target release.
Common mistake: Assuming the check reports a hardware incompatibility (wrong-platform image) rather than the standard feature-removal impact output of a same-platform downgrade.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Before performing a software downgrade on a Nexus switch, the show install all impact (or incompatibility) check reports what will happen when the new image is activated — specifically which features will be automatically removed or disabled because they are unsupported in the target release. This lets the administrator take action before the downgrade rather than discovering missing features afterward.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. A hardware-incompatibility message would appear only if the image were built for different hardware (for example an N7K image on an N9K); the standard pre-downgrade impact output is about feature removal, not hardware. C. An incompatibility with software is a subset of the same check but the question asks what is displayed, and the impact listing centers on removed features. D. ISSU chassis-reload impact is a different, broader command output.
Community Comment Notes
Votes are split A 44 / B 44. udo2020 (2 likes) and MKhalid cite the NX-OS Upgrade Best Practices guide: the command "inform the administrator if there are any features that will be automatically removed." Racktoor argues B (wrong-platform image) but the generic downgrade pre-check reports feature removal.
Official Reference
This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.
Community Votes
50% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Discussion 6 contributions
Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.
From public community threads 6
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Racktoor 👍 3 Answered BYou are trying to install n7k software on an n9k switch, so I would assume that the file is incompatible with the hardware.
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udo2020 👍 2It is A! Before downgrading software, verify if there are any incompatibilities to make sure features can be properly disabled before performing the downgrade. This will inform the administrator if there are any features that will be automatically removed from the configuration and allow the administrator to take action prior to the downgrade. This command should be run regardless if the ISSU or traditional downgrade method is performed.
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MKhalid 👍 2 Answered Ahttps://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/sw/best_practices/cli_mgmt_guide/cli_mgmt_bp/nxos_upgrade.html
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joncursio 👍 1 Answered AWill be A for sure. Checking features that will be disabled if we change to earlier image
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57ud3n7 👍 1 Answered Bbootflash file is incompatible with the switch hardware as stated by Racktoor.
Show 1 more comment
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ccie2024 👍 1 Answered Cword show that C. only show, why removed ? so A is not right.
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