Domain deletion is not required when a firmware downgrade is performed to a firmware version that existed prior to the firmware upgrade. However, if no previous firmware upgrade has been performed, downgrading without domain deletion is not allowed. When attempting a firmware downgrade, consider the following:

The domain must not be in FIPS mode.

Multiple, consecutive firmware downgrades are not supported.

A same version upgrade does not prevent a future downgrade if you decide to downgrade to the previous version in the future.

You can perform a firmware downgrade only to a version that was installed on the primary VC module prior to the upgrade.

The VCM configuration, module types, and cabling configuration must be the same before and after the upgrade.

The VCM credentials must be the same before and after the upgrade.

Do not perform a downgrade if servers are powered on or if a server profile migration operation has been performed since the upgrade. Performing a downgrade under these conditions can result in duplicate MACs/WWNs in the domain.

If the VC domain is managed by VCEM, be sure that the domain configuration has not changed, including the profile configuration, since the upgrade. Changes to the domain might require that you resynchronize VCEM to the domain or remove the domain from the VCDG. Changes to the profile configuration can result in duplicate MAC/WWN identifiers.

Virtual Connect modules 230