You have upgraded your cluster from ONTAP 9.

 Reverting to a Previous ONTAP Version:

Reverting ONTAP software requires specific procedures and is only supported if the ONTAP version being reverted to is compatible with the current cluster configuration.

 Why the Netboot Procedure Is Used:

The netboot process loads the desired ONTAP version directly into memory from a network location and reinitializes the system.

This method is used when a full software revert is required and is often necessary for downgrades to a version that cannot be directly reverted to from the running ONTAP version.

 Key Notes:

A direct revert is not supported from ONTAP 9.7 to ONTAP 9.5 using standard methods due to system metadata changes.

Always verify compatibility using the "ONTAP Software Version Interoperability Matrix".

 NetApp Reference Documentation:

Refer to the "ONTAP Revert/Downgrade Guide" for specific instructions on using the netboot procedure.