This 2-day 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.

Course Topics

At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the role of the BIG-IP system as a full proxy device in an application delivery network
• Set up, start/restart/stop, license, and provision the BIG-IP system
• Create a basic network configuration on the BIG-IP system including VLANs and self IPs
• Use the Configuration utility and TMOS Shell (tmsh) to manage BIG-IP resources and use as a resource when troubleshooting
• Create, restore from, and manage BIG-IP archives
• Understand and implement troubleshooting methodology to find and resolve issues
• View resource status, availability, and statistical information and use this information to determine how the BIG-IP system is currently processing traffic
• Use iApps to update BIG-IP configuration
• Perform troubleshooting and problem determination activities including using the iHealth diagnostic tool, researching known issues and solutions on AskF5, submitting a problem ticket to F5 Technical Support, and view traffic flow using tcpdump
• Understand the tools (ping, netstat, tcpdump, ssldump, WireShark, diff, Kdiff3, Fiddler, BIG-IP logs, etc.) available to use to identify BIG-IP and network issues from bottom to top
• List log files available, understand log levels, and use the appropriate files, log levels, and filters for troubleshooting
• Use High Speed Logging (HSL) and SNMP trap implementations to perform troubleshooting and problem determination activities
• Describe the role of iRules in affecting traffic behavior and how to use them to aid with troubleshooting and problem determination

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 of F5’s other BIG-IP instructor-led training courses.

Students must complete one of the following F5 prerequisites before attending this course:

• Administering BIG-IP instructor-led course

-or-

• F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator

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 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

The following course-specific knowledge and experience is suggested before attending this course:

• Web application delivery
• HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and SSH protocols
• TLS/SSL

Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System

• Introducing the BIG-IP System
• Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
• Archiving the BIG-IP System Configuration

Chapter 2: Reviewing Local Traffic Configuration

• Reviewing Nodes, Pools, and Virtual Servers
• Reviewing Address Translation
• Reviewing Routing Assumptions
• Reviewing Application Health Monitoring
• Reviewing Traffic Behavior Modification with Profiles
• Reviewing the TMOS Shell (TMSH)
• Reviewing Managing BIG-IP Configuration Data
• Reviewing High Availability (HA)

Chapter 3: Troubleshooting Methodology

• Step-By-Step Process
• Documenting a Problem
• Putting Troubleshooting Steps to Use

Chapter 4: Working with F5 Support

• Leveraging F5 Support Resources
• Leveraging F5 Labs
• Working with F5 Technical Support
• Running End User Diagnostics (EUD) - Hardware Only
• New Platform Diagnostic Tools
• Always-On Management (AOM) Subsystem
• Requesting Return Materials Authorization
• F5’s Software Version Policy
• Managing the BIG-IP License for Upgrades
• Managing BIG-IP Disk Space
• Upgrading BIG-IP Software

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting – Bottom to Top

• Introducing Differences between BIG-IP and LINUX Tools
• Troubleshooting with Layer 1/Layer 2 Tools
• Troubleshooting with Layer 2/Layer 3 Tools
• Troubleshooting with Layer 3 Tools
• Troubleshooting Network Communication
• Troubleshooting Memory and CPU
• Troubleshooting with watch
• Troubleshooting with Additional tmsh commands

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Tools

• tcpdump
• Wireshark
• SSL/TLS
• Fiddler
• diff
• KDiff3
• cURL

Chapter 7: Using System Logs

• Configuring Logging
• Log Files
• Understanding BIG-IP Daemons Functions
• Triggering an iRule
• Deploying and Testing iRules
• Application Visibility and Reporting

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Lab Projects

• Network Configurations for Project

Chapter 9: Additional Training and Certification

• Getting Started Series Web-Based Training
• F5 Instructor Led Training Curriculum
• F5 Professional Certification Program

Other courses available:

F5N_BIG-LTM-CFG-3, Configuring BIG-IP LTM: Local Traffic Manager v.16.1
F5N_BIG-DNS-I, Configuring BIG-IP DNS (formerly GTM) v.16.1
F5N_BIG-AWF-CFG, Configuring F5 Advanced WAF (previously licensed as ASM) v16.1
F5N_BIG-EGW-APM, Configuring BIG-IP APM: Access Policy Manager v.16.1
F5N_BIG-AFM, Configuring BIG-IP AFM: Advanced Firewall Manager v.16.1
F5N_BIG-IRULE-CFG, Developing iRules for BIG-IP v.16.1

Course Changes since v15

The Troubleshooting BIG-IP v16.1 course presents much of the same content as v15.1 with minor modifications to improve flow. Password length is 8 digits.