During a planned router OS upgrade, what essential part of the change request must an administrator document?

Documenting a backout plan to roll back changes is critical during a router OS upgrade. This plan serves as a safeguard, ensuring that if the upgrade encounters issues or does not perform as expected, the administrator can efficiently revert the system to its previous state. The backout plan should include specific steps for reverting changes, system configurations, and any necessary precautions to restore service with minimal disruption.

Having this strategy in place not only minimizes downtime but also helps to maintain network stability and performance. In the event of unforeseen complications, an effective backout plan enables swift action, ensuring that the organization can continue to operate without extensive outages.

While informing management of anticipated downtime is important for communication, it does not directly impact the technical execution of the upgrade. Configuring a redundant data path can reduce downtime, but it may not be feasible for every upgrade situation. Making the downtime window larger than expected could lead to unnecessary resource use and may frustrate users, but it fails to address the core backup strategy necessary for a smooth changeover. This highlights the importance of having a sound backout plan as part of any upgrade process.