The BIG-IP Administrator uses Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) to upload a TMOS image to the /shared/images/ directory in preparation for an upgrade. After…

After a TMOS image file is uploaded to the /shared/images/ directory, the BIG-IP system's lind process automatically detects the new file. This process then performs an integrity check by verifying the internal MD5 checksum of the image file. This verification ensures the file is not corrupt or incomplete. Only after the checksum is successfully validated will the image be listed as available in the Configuration utility (GUI) under System » Software Management » Image List, ready for installation.

A. The system performs a reboot into the new partition.

A system reboot is a manual action performed by the administrator after the new image has been installed into a specific boot location, not automatically upon file upload.

C. The system copies the image to /var/local/images/.

The /shared/images/ directory is the designated location for software images. The system reads from this directory and does not copy the image to another location to make it visible.

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1. F5 Networks Knowledge Base, K13432: The BIG-IP system may not display a software image that was manually copied to the BIG-IP system.

Reference Section: Description and Recommended Actions paragraphs.

Content: This document explicitly states, "The lind process is responsible for finding and verifying software images located in the /shared/images directory. The lind process verifies the MD5 checksum of the image file. If the checksum is valid, the image is displayed in the Configuration utility." This directly confirms that checksum verification is the step performed before the image appears in the GUI.

2. F5 BIG-IP TMOS: Operations Guide, Version 16.1

Reference Section: Chapter 2: BIG-IP system software, Section: About software images.

Content: The guide explains that when you upload a software image, "the BIG-IP system automatically checks to ensure that the software image is valid for the specific BIG-IP platform." This validation process includes the integrity check (checksum).

3. F5 BIG-IP System: Software Management, Version 15.1

Reference Section: Chapter: Managing Software Images, Section: Importing software images.

Content: The documentation details the process of making images available. It notes that after uploading, the system processes the file. The status of the image will be "verifying image" or similar before it becomes "available," which aligns with the checksum verification step.