Course Details
Overview
This course gives networking professionals hands-on knowledge of how to troubleshoot a BIG-IP LTM system using a number of troubleshooting techniques as well as troubleshooting and system tools. This course includes lectures, labs, and discussions.
Topics covered in this course include:
- Configuration Project
- Troubleshooting Methodology
- F5 Support
- BIG-IP Product Architecture
- Troubleshooting – Bottom to Top
- Troubleshooting Tools
- Using System Logs
Throughout this course you will have access to a BIG-IP that uses a typical Internal-External VLAN architecture with a pool of servers (HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, FTP, etc) along with web application servers. In the lab for this module, you will license the BIG-IP, set up the Internal and External VLANs, and create the Pools and Virtual Servers that you will use as part of your troubleshooting exercises.
In addition to the topics above, lab exercises will provide a chance to practice troubleshooting problems using the BIG-IP information, troubleshooting methodology, and tools that you have learned.
Outline
Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Introducing the BIG-IP System
- Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
- Backing Up and Restoring BIG-IP Configurations
- Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools
Chapter 1B: Configuring the BIG-IP System
Chapter 2: Troubleshooting Methodology
- Troubleshooting Steps
- The Troubleshooting Process
- Example 1
- Example 2
Chapter 3: F5 Support
- Support Overview
- AskF5
- DevCentral
- BIG-IP iHealth
- Support Cases
- Software Version Policy
- System Upgrades: Hotfixes, Releases
- EUD and RMA
Chapter 4: Product Architecture
- Architecture Overview
- AOM
- Switch Fabric
- Host Subsystem
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting – Bottom to Top
- Host Architecture
- Layer 1 / Layer 2 Tools
- Layer 2 / Layer 3 Tools
- Layer 3 Tools
- Linux Tools
- Memory and CPU
- watch
- Additional tmsh commands
- End-User Diagnostics (EUD)
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Tools
- tcpdump
- Wireshark
- Fiddler
- diff
- Kdiff3
- ssldump
- cURL
Chapter 7: Using System Logs
- System Log Configuration
- Log Files
- Custom Logging Using iRules
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Lab Projects
- Network Configurations for Projects
Target Audience
This course assumes that you have successfully completed the Administering BIG-IP course, or equivalent, and have hands-on experience working in a production BIG-IP LTM environment for several months. You should have a solid understanding of the environment in which the BIG-IP is deployed. This course is meant for BIG-IP administrators, network engineers, applications engineers, etc., who will be responsible for troubleshooting problems associated with their BIG-IP system.
Pre-Requisites
Students should be familiar with the BIG-IP LTM system and, in particular, how to setup and configure a BIG-IP LTM system, including virtual servers, pools, profiles, VLANs and self-IPs.
Students are required to complete one of the following F5 prerequisites before attending this course:
- Administering BIG-IP – V11 instructor-led course
- F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator
In addition, the following web-based courses will be very helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP LTM administration and configuration:
- Getting Started with BIG-IP web-based training
- Getting Started with BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) web-based training
Students should understand:
- TMOS administration
- Network concepts and configuration
- Programming concepts