Learn DevOps techniques for the onboarding of and deploying apps to BIG-IP. Start by reviewing the Linux command line and then review basic BIG-IP concepts such as F5 terminology, round robin server pool load balancing, health monitor checks, layer 4 proxying and source address translation both in lecture and in hands-on labs. Next, focus on automation and DevOps concepts such as Infrastructure as Code, the role of orchestration, Source of Truth, atomicity, idempotency and imperative vs. declarative operations and their APIs.

Dive into JSON, the standard scripting notation for DevOps, and investigate programming BIG-IP systems using JSON-based iControl REST. Discover onboarding BIG-IP using iControl REST, both in lecture and hands-on labs.

In both lecture and lab, explore F5’s declarative API, AS3, as the application source of truth. Use AS3 to deploy applications to BIG-IP using both curl on the command line and the Postman GUI. Use the F5 declarative onboarding API, DO, for managing the entire onboarding process.

Explore the alternative data serialization language to JSON, YAML, which is used by Kubernetes and many other applications, before jumping into Ansible. Learn about the Ansible architecture, components, modules and how it uses Python and iControl REST to run on just about any platform. Build trust relationships with BIG-IP systems and backend servers using advanced inventory files.　Create sophisticated playbooks that feature fact gathering, conditional tasks, and secure password vaults that are used to onboard, provision, license and deploy HA applications to BIG-IP systems.

This course is intended for network administrators and operators and DevOps engineers interested in automating tasks on BIG-IP systems in their public and private Clouds as well as in their data center infrastructures.

The following free Self-Directed Training (SDT) courses, although optional, are helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience:

Getting Started with BIG-IP

Getting Started with Local Traffic Manager (LTM)

General network technology knowledge and experience are　recommended　before attending any F5 Global Training Services instructor-led course, including OSI model encapsulation, routing and switching, Ethernet and ARP, TCP/IP concepts, IP addressing and subnetting, NAT and private IP addressing, NAT and private IP addressing, default gateway, network firewalls, and LAN vs. WAN.

Students should be familiar with and be able to configure basic BIG-IP elements such as virtual servers, pools, pool members, and nodes, pool monitors, and basic virtual server profiles. In addition, students should be familiar with the basics of the Linux command line, and have solid understanding of Layer 2 Ethernet and ARP networking, Layer 3 and 4 TCP/IP networking, including IP addressing and subnetting, Layer 7 HTTP networking, and HTML.

Finally,　nice-to-have　knowledge includes familiarity with programming and/or scripting languages, such as JavaScript or NodeJS, Python, or Bash.

Chapter: Automation and DevOps Concepts

• Understanding Infrastructure as Code, NetOps and DevOps
• Differentiating Automation and Orchestration Concepts
• Diving into DevOps Concepts such as Idempotency, Atomicity and Imperative vs Declarative

Chapter: BIG-IP Application Creation Review

Understanding Load Balancing Basics

Configuring Virtual Servers, Pools, Pool Members and Nodes

Configuring Health Monitors and SSL Profiles

Understanding the Full Proxy Architecture and Source Address Translation

Chapter: Introduction to JavaScript Object Notation

Programmability on BIG-IP Systems

JSON

Chapter: Onboarding BIG-IP with iControl REST

Onboarding BIG-IP using iControl REST

Working with JSON Programmatically

Chapter: Programming BIG-IP with iControl REST

Introducing Basic JavaScript Types

Introducing JavaScript Object Notation

Discovering an existing BIG-IP Configuration using iControl REST

Deploying Apps on BIG-IP using iControl REST

Chapter: Automating BIG-IP with AS3

Introducing BIG-IP Applications Services Extension 3

Creating BIG-IP Applications using AS3 with Curl

Introducing Postman and Postman Tests

Creating BIG-IP Applications using AS3 with Postman

Using Newman and the Linux CLI to Create BIG-IP Applications with AS3

Chapter: Onboarding BIG-IP with DO

Introducing Declarative Onboarding for BIG-IP

Remotely Installing the Declarative Onboarding iApp LX

Onboarding BIG-IP Declaratively

Chapter: YAML Basics

YAML

YAML and JSON

Chapter: Introduction to Ansible

What is Ansible

Ansible Architecture

Working with Ansible

Chapter: Playbooks and Inventory

Inventory File Build-Out

Organized Inventory

Chapter: Onboarding and Deprovisioning

Onboarding BIG-IP with Ansible

Deprovisioning a BIG-IP Module

Chapter: Licensing BIG-IP using Ansible

Licensing BIG-IP

Chapter: Deploying BIG-IP Apps

Ansible Components

Using Ansible

Chapter: BIG-IP HA

Configure BIG-IP HA Modules

Chapter: Defining Roles

Ansible Roles

Ansible Roles: Problems with Sollutions

Chapter: Course Closeout

Additional Training and Certification