A network operations engineer needs to apply a vendor-recommended firmware update to a stack of core network switches. To adhere to standard change management best practices and maintain high availability during the maintenance window, which TWO of the following tasks should be completed prior to deploying the patch into production?
- Verify the patch integrity using a vendor-provided cryptographic hash and test it in a non-production staging environment.Answer
- Export and archive a baseline configuration backup of the switch stack to enable a rapid rollback if issues occur.Answer
- CDeploy the update directly to all production switches simultaneously before creating a rollback plan to shorten the maintenance window.
- DPerform a differential restoration of operating system images from an unverified remote backup host during peak traffic hours.
Answer
Prior to deploying a patch in production, network administrators must verify the update integrity, perform lab/staging testing, and save a baseline configuration backup.
Verifying the update file using a cryptographic checksum, testing in a staging environment, and backing up switch configuration baselines are essential pre-deployment steps to ensure software safety and maintain a clear rollback path.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Pre-deployment Patch Staging, Validation, and Configuration Backup