Course Details
Overview
This course gives network administrators, network operators, and network engineers a functional understanding of the BIG-IP v11 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.
Objectives
Topics covered in this course include:
- Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Traffic Processing with Local Traffic Manager (LTM)
- Using NATs and SNATs
- Using the Traffic Management Shell (TMSH)
- Monitoring Application Health
- Modifying Traffic Behavior with Profiles
- Modifying Traffic Behavior with Persistence
- Deploying Application Services with iApps
- Troubleshooting the BIG-IP System
- Administering the BIG-IP System
- Customizing Application Delivery with iRules
Outline
Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Introducing the BIG-IP System
- Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Creating an Archive of the BIG-IP System
Chapter 2: Traffic Processing Building Blocks
- Identifying BIG-IP Traffic Processing Objects
- Network Packet Flow
- Configuring Virtual Servers and Pools
- Load Balancing Concepts
- Viewing Statistics and Logs
Chapter 3: Using NATs and SNATs
- Address Translation on the BIG-IP System
- NAT Concepts
- Solving Routing Issues with SNATs
- Configuring SNAT Auto Map on a Virtual Server
- Monitoring for and Mitigating Port Exhaustion
Chapter 4: Using the Traffic Management Shell (tmsh)
- Traffic Management Shell (tmsh)
- BIG-IP Configuration State and Files
- Saving and Replicating Configuration Data (UCS and SCF)
- Viewing the BIG-IP Connection Table
Chapter 5: 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 6: Modifying Traffic Behavior with Profiles
- Introducing Profiles
- Understanding Profile Types and Dependencies
- Configuring and Assigning Profiles
- Introducing SSL Termination
Chapter 7: Modifying Traffic Behavior with Persistence
- Understanding the Need for Persistence
- Introducing Source Address Affinity Persistence
- Introducing Cookie Persistence
- Managing Object State
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting the BIG-IP System
- Configuring Logging
- Monitoring the BIG-IP System Remotely with SNMP
- Using tcpdump on the BIG-IP System
- Leveraging the BIG-IP iHealth System
- Working with F5 Technical Support
Chapter 9: Administering the BIG-IP System
- Monitoring Network Health
- Always-On Management (AOM)
- License Dates and Upgrade Considerations
- BIG-IP Disk and Software Management
- Expanding Availability with Device Service Clustering
- User Roles and Administrative Partitions
- CMP and vCMP
- iApps Overview
Chapter 10: Customizing Application Delivery with iRules
- iRules Concepts
- iRules Events
- iRules Resources
Target 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.
Pre-Requisites
Students should understand:
- Common elements of and differences between WAN and LAN components
- TCP/IP Addressing and Routing including:
- The Address Resolution Protocol
- Direct and Indirect Routing
- TCP Handshakes