Course Outline
BIG-IP Architecture & Platform Management
- Foundational networking concepts — OSI model (L2–L7), positioning load balancers at L4/L7; mapping IP addressing and subnetting to BIG-IP self IPs and VLANs.
- TMM traffic-processing architecture; understanding the traffic path from client → virtual server → pool member; device modes, administrative partitions, and role-based access control (crucial for segregation-of-duties in banking); licensing and module provisioning (LTM, AVR).
- Navigating the TMUI and adopting efficient GUI workflows; tmsh fundamentals; managing configuration backups and restores using UCS archives; an overview of hardware versus virtual editions and their appropriate placement within bank datacentres.
- Lab “Get Traffic Flowing” — initial setup (VLANs, self IPs, routes), creating nodes, pools, and health monitors, building the first virtual server, verifying traffic to backend application servers, and capturing a UCS backup.
Core Load Balancing & SSL/TLS
- Foundational networking concepts — TCP/UDP handshake and port mechanics; HTTP methods, headers, status codes, and keep-alive.
- Virtual server variations; designing pools, nodes, and monitors; load-balancing algorithms; TCP/HTTP profiles and connection reuse; applying these concepts to internet-banking and API traffic patterns.
- SSL/TLS offload and certificate management (key/cert import, chains, cipher policy — aligned with standard banking security baselines); persistence methods (cookie, source-address) and their appropriate use cases; an introduction to iRules using simple read-only examples (redirects, header insertion).
- Lab — Construct an HTTPS virtual server with SSL offload for a simulated banking portal, configure cookie persistence, validate the certificate chain in the browser, apply a simple redirect iRule, and observe monitor-driven pool member failover.
High Availability & Operations
- Foundational networking concepts — VLANs, routing, and ARP essentials; DNS resolution flows and record types; a recap of the TLS handshake.
- Device Service Clustering: establishing device trust, sync-failover groups, config sync, traffic groups, and floating IPs; understanding failover behaviour and the client experience; HA design considerations for banking (dual-datacentre patterns, zero-downtime maintenance).
- Operations for regulated environments: local and remote logging (syslog, SNMP), AVR traffic analytics, audit logging of administrative changes, upgrade and maintenance procedures, backup strategies, and disaster-recovery fundamentals; a brief outlook on automation (iControl REST) and WAF (ASM/Advanced WAF) as subsequent topics.
- Lab: Build an active/standby HA pair using the two per-trainee BIG-IP VEs, establish device trust and config sync, execute forced failover during live traffic, configure remote syslog, review audit logs, and perform a final backup; course recap and Q&A.
Lab Environment
Each trainee is provided with a dedicated, isolated lab comprising two BIG-IP Virtual Edition instances (to support the Day 3 HA exercise) along with shared backend web servers simulating application tiers. Access is fully browser-based via a secured Guacamole gateway — requiring only a web browser, with no need for VPN clients or local software installation, thereby simplifying participation from secure banking workstations. The environment is pre-built and validated prior to Day 1; every trainee will conclude Day 1 with operational traffic through their assigned BIG-IP.
Requirements
No prior experience with F5 is necessary.
Basic TCP/IP knowledge is beneficial but not a prerequisite. Each day begins with concise networking primers (OSI model, TCP/HTTP, DNS/TLS) tailored to the day’s F5 topics, ensuring that teams with varying levels of expertise reach a common starting point.
Audience: Network engineers, security engineers, and application support and operations personnel within banking and financial institutions
Testimonials (1)
communication, knowledge from experience, solve problems,
