Administering BIG-IP
Duration
2 Days
Course Content
This course gives network administrators, network operators, and network engineers a functional understanding of the BIG-IP system as it is commonly deployed in an application delivery network. The course introduces students to the BIG-IP system, its configuration objects, how it processes traffic, and how typical administrative and operational activities are performed. The course includes lecture, hands-on labs, interactive demonstrations, and discussions.
Prerequisites
The following free web-based training courses, although optional, will be very helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience.
- Getting Started with BIG-IP web-based training
- Getting Started with BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) web-based training
The following general network technology knowledge and experience are recommended before attending any F5 Global Training Services instructor-led course:
- OSI model encapsulation
- Routing and switching
- Ethernet and ARP
- TCP/IP concepts
- IP addressing and subnetting
- NAT and private IP addressing
- Default gateway
- Network firewalls
- LAN vs. WAN
Course Outline
Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Introducing the BIG-IP System
- Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Configuring the Management Interface
- Activating the Software License
- Provisioning Modules and Resources
- Importing a Device Certificate
- Specifying BIG-IP Platform Properties
- Configuring the Network
- Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) Servers
- Configuring Domain Name System (DNS) Settings
- Configuring High Availability Options
- Archiving the BIG-IP Configuration
- Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools
Chapter 2: Traffic Processing Building Blocks
- Identifying BIG-IP Traffic Processing Objects
- Configuring Virtual Servers and Pools
- Load Balancing Traffic
- Viewing Module Statistics and Logs
- Using the Traffic Management Shell (TMSH)
- Understanding the TMSH Hierarchical Structure
- Navigating the TMSH Hierarchy
- Managing BIG-IP Configuration State and Files
- BIG-IP System Configuration State
- Loading and Saving the System Configuration
- Shutting Down and Restarting the BIG-IP System
- Saving and Replicating Configuration Data (UCS and SCF)
Chapter 3: Using NATs and SNATs
- Address Translation on the BIG-IP System
- Mapping IP Addresses with NATs
- Solving Routing Issues with SNATs
- Configuring SNAT Auto Map on a Virtual Server
- Monitoring for and Mitigating Port Exhaustion
Chapter 4: Monitoring Application Health
- Introducing Monitors
- Types of Monitors
- Monitor Interval and Timeout Settings
- Configuring Monitors
- Assigning Monitors to Resources
- Managing Pool, Pool Member, and Node Status
- Using the Network Map
Chapter 5: Modifying Traffic Behavior with Profiles
- Introducing Profiles
- Understanding Profile Types and Dependencies
- Configuring and Assigning Profiles
- Introducing SSL Offload and SSL Re-Encryption
- Managing Object State
Chapter 6: Modifying Traffic Behavior with Persistence
- Understanding the Need for Persistence
- Introducing Source Address Affinity Persistence
- Managing Object State
Chapter 7: Administering the BIG-IP System
- Configuring Logging
- Legacy Remote Logging
- Introducing High Speed Logging (HSL)
- High-Speed Logging Filters
- HSL Configuration Objects
- Configuring High Speed Logging
- Using TCPDUMP on the BIG-IP System
- Leveraging the BIG-IP iHealth System
- Viewing BIG-IP System Statistics
- Defining User Roles and Administrative Partitions
- Leveraging vCMP
Chapter 8: Configuring High Availability
- Introducing Device Service Clustering (DSC)
- Preparing to Deploy a DSC Configuration
- Configuring DSC Communication Settings
- Establishing Device Trust
- Establishing a Sync-Failover Device Group
- Synchronizing Configuration Data
- Exploring Traffic Group Behavior
- Understanding Failover Managers and Triggers
- Achieving Stateful Failover with Mirroring
Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Introducing the BIG-IP System
- Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Configuring the Management Interface
- Activating the Software License
- Provisioning Modules and Resources
- Importing a Device Certificate
- Specifying BIG-IP Platform Properties
- Configuring the Network
- Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) Servers
- Configuring Domain Name System (DNS) Settings
- Configuring High Availability Options
- Archiving the BIG-IP Configuration
- Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools
Chapter 2: Traffic Processing Building Blocks
- Identifying BIG-IP Traffic Processing Objects
- Configuring Virtual Servers and Pools
- Load Balancing Traffic
- Viewing Module Statistics and Logs
- Using the Traffic Management Shell (TMSH)
- Understanding the TMSH Hierarchical Structure
- Navigating the TMSH Hierarchy
- Managing BIG-IP Configuration State and Files
- BIG-IP System Configuration State
- Loading and Saving the System Configuration
- Shutting Down and Restarting the BIG-IP System
- Saving and Replicating Configuration Data (UCS and SCF)
Chapter 3: Using NATs and SNATs
- Address Translation on the BIG-IP System
- Mapping IP Addresses with NAT
- Solving Routing Issues with SNATs
- Configuring SNAT Auto Map on a Virtual Server
- Monitoring for and Mitigating Port Exhaustion
Chapter 4: Monitoring Application Health
- Introducing Monitors
- Types of Monitors
- Monitor Interval and Timeout Settings
- Configuring Monitors
- Assigning Monitors to Resources
- Managing Pool, Pool Member, and Node Status
- Using the Network Map
Chapter 5: Modifying Traffic Behavior with Profiles
- Introducing Profiles
- Understanding Profile Types and Dependencies
- Configuring and Assigning Profiles
- Understanding the Need for Persistence
- Introducing Source Address Affinity Persistence
- Introducing Cookie Persistence
- Introducing SSL Offload and SSL Re-Encryption
- Managing Object State
Chapter 6: Administering the BIG-IP System
- Configuring Logging
- Legacy Remote Logging
- Introducing High Speed Logging (HSL)
- High-Speed Logging Filters
- HSL Configuration Objects
- Configuring High Speed Logging
- Using TCPDUMP on the BIG-IP System
- Leveraging the BIG-IP iHealth System
- Viewing BIG-IP System Statistics
- Defining User Roles and Administrative Partitions
- Leveraging vCMP
Chapter 7: Customizing Application Delivery with iRules
- Identifying iRules Components
- Triggering iRules with Events
- Leveraging the iRules Ecosystem on DevCentral
Audience
This course is intended for network administrators, operators, and engineers responsible for managing the normal day-to-day operation and administration of a BIG-IP application delivery network. This course presents the prerequisite knowledge for many other of F5’s BIG-IP instructor-led training courses.