Selecting your upgrade, downgrade, or revert procedure

When you update the ONTAP software, you must use a different procedure depending on whether you are upgrading, downgrading, or reverting the software.

An ONTAP software update involves one of the following possible activities.

Software upgrade

The software version is changed from an earlier version to a later version of ONTAP. For example, from ONTAP 9.7 to ONTAP 9.8.

Updating software on ONTAP clusters

Software revert

The software version is changed from a later version to an earlier version of ONTAP. For example, from ONTAP 9.8 to ONTAP 9.7. Verify your cluster requirements to determine if you need to downgrade or revert.

Updating software on ONTAP clusters

Reverting clusters to an earlier ONTAP release

Software downgrade

The software version is changed from a later version to an earlier version of ONTAP within the same major release. For example, from ONTAP 9.6 to ONTAP 9.5. Verify your cluster requirements to determine if you need to downgrade or revert.

Updating software on ONTAP clusters

Upgrading or downgrading a cluster nondisruptively by using the rolling upgrade method