# F5 VCMP guest shutdown and decommissioning

**URL:** <https://community.f5.com/t/f5-vcmp-guest-shutdown-and-decommissioning/77169>\
**Category:** Technical Forums\
**Tags:** application-delivery\
**Created:** [June 4, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.f5.com/t/f5-vcmp-guest-shutdown-and-decommissioning/77169 "2026-06-04T12:52:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Preet\_pk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Preet\_pk](https://community.f5.com/u/Preet_pk)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.f5.com/t/f5-vcmp-guest-shutdown-and-decommissioning/77169/1 "2026-06-04T12:52:40Z")

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Hi,

I have a change to shut down and decommission some of the F5 vCMP guests under the vCMP host. Please share the complete change plan steps and any considerations to take into account before the activity.

Also as part of taking usc backup, i need to take the key separately right. If possible please share the CLI commands to take the ucs & key backup. Also is root account required to export the ucs & key.

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**Author:** ![Anoop\_Jayadharan](https://d1p9zq3aats0t8.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.f5.com/anoop_jayadharan/32/17359_2.png) [@Anoop\_Jayadharan](https://community.f5.com/u/Anoop_Jayadharan)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.f5.com/t/f5-vcmp-guest-shutdown-and-decommissioning/77169/2 "2026-06-04T15:23:59Z")

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@Preet_pk

For backing up BIG-IP systems, refer to the following link

[https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K13132#prebackup](https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K13132#prebackup)

In order to obtain the master key,

1. Log in to the Active BIG-IP system command line.
2. From the active peer BIG-IP system, obtain the master key by typing the following command:f5mku -_KoruIVCHfmVBnwGaSR/+MAA==_
3. The command output appears similar to the following example:

The master key must be the same across the DSC.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![leemedz](https://d1p9zq3aats0t8.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.f5.com/leemedz/32/17937_2.png) [@leemedz](https://community.f5.com/u/leemedz)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.f5.com/t/f5-vcmp-guest-shutdown-and-decommissioning/77169/3 "2026-06-05T14:13:51Z")

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To shutdown the Guest:

1. Log into the Host
2. Navigate to **vCMP → Guest List**
3. Select the Guest you want to shutdown
4. Set **Requested State** to **Configured**
5. Click **Update**

That will leave the Guest in place but consuming no resources so should you want to rollback the change you just set the device to&nbsp; **Deployed** again:

[K20081511: Shutting down and restarting the vCMP guest from the vCMP host](https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K20081511)

If you want to remove the Guest completely then follow this article:

[K71021567: Decomission / Delete / Remove unused vCMP Guest](https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K71021567)