Which Step Should a Network Administrator Take to Ensure a Smooth Switch Upgrade Process?

A network administrator is downloading a large patch that will be uploaded to several enterprise switches simultaneously during the day's upgrade cycle.

Which of the following should the administrator do to help ensure the upgrade process will be less likely to cause problems with the switches?

A.

Confirm the patch's MD5 hash prior to the upgrade.

B.

Schedule the switches to reboot after an appropriate amount of time.

C.

Download each switch's current configuration before the upgrade.

D.

Utilize FTP rather than TFTP to upload the patch.

C.

Option C is the correct answer: Download each switch's current configuration before the upgrade.

When upgrading network devices such as switches, it is important to take precautions to minimize the chances of problems during and after the upgrade process. The following are some reasons why downloading each switch's current configuration before the upgrade is the correct answer:

1. Configuration backup: Downloading the current configuration of each switch before the upgrade can serve as a backup in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. If a switch experiences problems after the upgrade, the backup configuration can be restored to bring the switch back to its previous state.

2. Configuration comparison: Having a backup of the current configuration also allows for easy comparison between the old and new configurations after the upgrade. This can help identify any configuration changes or errors that may have been introduced during the upgrade process.

3. Rollback: If the new patch causes any issues, the backup configuration can be used to roll back the switch to its previous state. This can help minimize the impact of the issue and prevent further problems from occurring.

While the other options are also important considerations during the upgrade process, they do not directly address the issue of minimizing problems with the switches during the upgrade process.

Option A, confirming the patch's MD5 hash prior to the upgrade, is a security measure to ensure that the patch has not been tampered with or corrupted, but it does not directly address the upgrade process itself.

Option B, scheduling the switches to reboot after an appropriate amount of time, is a common practice to ensure that the switches have time to fully apply the new patch before rebooting, but it does not directly address the potential for problems during the upgrade process.

Option D, utilizing FTP rather than TFTP to upload the patch, is a consideration for the transfer method of the patch, but it does not directly address the potential for problems during the upgrade process.