Troubleshooting BIG-IP v.17.1

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.

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

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

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: 

• Administering BIG-IP instructor-led course -Or- 

• 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): 

• 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 

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

• HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and SSH protocols

• Configuring BIG-IP LTM: Local Traffic Manager v.16.1
• Configuring BIG-IP DNS (formerly GTM) v.16.1
• Configuring F5 Advanced WAF (previously licensed as ASM) v16.1
• Configuring BIG-IP APM: Access Policy Manager v.16.1
• Configuring BIG-IP AFM: Advanced Firewall Manager v.16.1
• Developing iRules for BIG-IP v.16.1

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