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.

Topics covered in this course Include:  

 v13 Course Topics

Getting started with the BIG-IP system
Traffic processing with BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)
Using the TMSH (TMOS Shell) command line interface
Using NATs and SNATs
Monitoring application health and managing object status
Modifying traffic behavior with profiles, including SSL offload and re-encryption
Modifying traffic behavior with persistence, including source address affinity and cookie persistence
Troubleshooting the BIG-IP system, including logging (local, high-speed, and legacy remote logging), and using tcpdump
User roles and administrative partitions
vCMP concepts
Customizing application delivery with iRules
 

v13 COURSE OUTLINE

Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System

Introducing the BIG-IP System
Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
Archiving the BIG-IP Configuration
Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools

Chapter 2: Traffic Processing Building Blocks

Identifying BIG-IP Traffic Processing Objects
Network Packet Flow
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

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.

There are no required F5 prerequisites for this course. The following free web-based training courses, although optional, will be very helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience. These courses are available at F5 University:

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

More information - F5 Webpage under "Education"