Skip to main Content

Automating BIG-IP with Ansible v.1.7

  • Course Code F5N_BIG-AUTO
  • Duration 2 days

Course Delivery

Virtual Learning Price

Please call

Request Group Training Add to Cart

Course Delivery

This course is available in the following formats:

  • Public Classroom

    Traditional Classroom Learning

  • Virtual Learning

    Learning that is virtual

Request this course in a different delivery format.

Course Overview

Top

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 of 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.

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.

Course Schedule

Top

Target Audience

Top

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

Course Content

Top

Linux Command Line Review

Navigating the Linux File System

Creating and Deleting Files and Directories

Copying and Moving Files

Command Line Auto-Completion and Editing

Tools for Analyzing Test Results and Inspecting Log Files

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

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

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

Onboarding BIG-IP with iControl REST

Onboarding BIG-IP using iControl REST

Working with JSON Programmatically

Automating BIG-IP with Ansible

YAML Basics

Introduction to Ansible

Playbooks and Inventory

Deploying BIG-IP Applications

Onboarding BIG-IP Using Ansible

Licensing, HA and Roles

Course Closeout

Additional Training and Certification

Course Prerequisites

Top

Suggested Prework

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.

Further Information

Top

Delegates will be provided with official F5 e-kit courseware approximately 1 week prior to the start of the course.