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
โข Configuration Project
โข Troubleshooting Methodology
โข F5 Support
โข Troubleshooting - Bottom to Top
โข Troubleshooting Tools
โข Using System Logs
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
โข Describe the role of the BIG-IP system as a full proxy device in an application delivery network
โข Set up, start/restart/stop, license, and provision the BIG-IP system
โข Create a basic network configuration on the BIG-IP system including VLANs and self IPs
โข Use the Configuration utility and TMOS Shell (tmsh) to manage BIG-IP resources and use as a resource when troubleshooting
โข Create, restore from, and manage BIG-IP archives
โข Understand and implement troubleshooting methodology to find and resolve issues
โข View resource status, availability, and statistical information and use this information to determine how the BIG-IP system is currently processing traffic
โข Use iApps to update BIG-IP configuration
โข 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
โข 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
โข List log files available, understand log levels, and use the appropriate files, log levels, and filters for troubleshooting
โข Use High Speed Logging (HSL) and SNMP trap implementations to perform troubleshooting and problem determination activities
โข Describe the role of iRules in affecting traffic behavior and how to use them to aid with troubleshooting and problem determination
Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System
โข Introducing the BIG-IP System
โข Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
โข Archiving the BIG-IP System Configuration
Chapter 2: Reviewing Local Traffic Configuration
โข Reviewing Nodes, Pools, and Virtual Servers
โข Reviewing Address Translation
โข Reviewing Routing Assumptions
โข Reviewing Application Health Monitoring
โข Reviewing Traffic Behavior Modification with Profiles
โข Reviewing the TMOS Shell (TMSH)
โข Reviewing Managing BIG-IP Configuration Data
โข Reviewing High Availability (HA)
Chapter 3: Troubleshooting Methodology
โข Step-By-Step Process
โข Documenting a Problem
โข Putting Troubleshooting Steps to Use
Chapter 4: Working with F5 Support
โข Leveraging F5 Support Resources
โข Leveraging F5 Labs
โข Working with F5 Technical Support
โข Running End User Diagnostics (EUD) - Hardware Only
โข New Platform Diagnostic Tools
โข Always-On Management (AOM) Subsystem
โข Requesting Return Materials Authorization
โข F5โs Software Version Policy
โข Managing the BIG-IP License for Upgrades
โข Managing BIG-IP Disk Space
โข Upgrading BIG-IP Software
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting โ Bottom to Top
โข Introducing Differences between BIG-IP and LINUX Tools
โข Troubleshooting with Layer 1/Layer 2 Tools
โข Troubleshooting with Layer 2/Layer 3 Tools
โข Troubleshooting with Layer 3 Tools
โข Troubleshooting Network Communication
โข Troubleshooting Memory and CPU
โข Troubleshooting with watch
โข Troubleshooting with Additional tmsh commands
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Tools
โข tcpdump
โข Wireshark
โข SSL/TLS
โข Fiddler
โข diff
โข KDiff3
โข cURL
Chapter 7: Using System Logs
โข Configuring Logging
โข Log Files
โข Understanding BIG-IP Daemons Functions
โข Triggering an iRule
โข Deploying and Testing iRules
โข Application Visibility and Reporting
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Lab Projects
โข Network Configurations for Project
Chapter 9: Additional Training and Certification
โข Getting Started Series Web-Based Training
โข F5 Instructor Led Training Curriculum
โข F5 Professional Certification Program
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.
Students are required to complete one of the following F5 prerequisites before attending this course:
โข Administering BIG-IP instructor-led course -Or-
โข F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator
The following free web-based courses, although optional, will be very helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience.
These courses are available at LearnF5 (https://www.f5.com/services/training):
โข Getting Started with BIG-IP web-based training
โข 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:
โข OSI model encapsulation
โข Routing and switching
โข Ethernet and ARP
โข TCP/IP concepts
โข IP addressing and subnetting
โข NAT and private IP addressing
โข Default gateway
โข Network firewalls
โข LAN vs. WAN
The following course-specific knowledge and experience is suggested before attending this course:
โข HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and SSH protocols
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 F5โs other BIG-IP instructor-led training courses.
