You are adding a SG6160 node to an existing NetApp StorageGRID 12.

Before adding an SG6160 appliance to an existing StorageGRID 12.0 grid, the StorageGRID Appliance Installer firmware must be compatible with the StorageGRID software version currently running on the grid. NetApp's StorageGRID 12.0 expansion requirements explicitly state that if the Appliance Installer firmware is not compatible, it must be upgraded before the appliance is deployed as a new grid node.

Because this SG6160 still contains an older 11.8-era Appliance Installer, the administrator should obtain the appropriate StorageGRID Appliances support/firmware package from NetApp Downloads and manually upgrade the appliance through the Appliance Installer's firmware-upgrade workflow. NetApp's documented procedure uses Advanced > Upgrade Firmware, followed by uploading the appropriate support file and completing the firmware update before installation.

Option A is incorrect because a newly added appliance should not be introduced with incompatible installer firmware merely to operate temporarily at a mixed version. Option D has the same problem: compatibility must be established before joining the node. Option B is incorrect because Active IQ is not the mechanism used to upgrade StorageGRID Appliance Installer firmware.

Therefore, C is the correct procedure.

Reference topics: StorageGRID Expansion → Appliance Nodes → StorageGRID Appliance Installer → Firmware Compatibility → Upgrade Firmware → SG6160 Deployment