Course Outline
BIG-IP Architecture & Platform Management
- Networking basics — the OSI model (L2–L7), Layer 4/L7 load balancing; mapping IP addressing and subnetting to BIG-IP self IPs and VLANs.
- TMM traffic-processing architecture; the path from client to virtual server to pool member; device modes, administrative partitions, and role-based access control (addressing segregation-of-duties requirements in banking); licensing and module provisioning (LTM, AVR).
- TMUI navigation and efficient GUI workflows; tmsh essentials; configuration backup and restore via UCS archives; comparison of hardware versus virtual editions and their suitability for bank data centers.
- Lab “Getting Traffic Flowing” — initial setup (VLANs, self IPs, routes), creating nodes, pools, and health monitors, building a first virtual server, verifying traffic to backend application servers, and taking a UCS backup.
Core Load Balancing & SSL/TLS
- Networking basics — TCP/UDP handshakes and port concepts; HTTP methods, headers, status codes, and keep-alive features.
- Types of virtual servers; designing pools, nodes, and monitors; load-balancing algorithms; TCP/HTTP profiles and connection reuse; application to internet-banking and API traffic patterns.
- SSL/TLS offloading and certificate management (importing keys/certs, chains, and cipher policies aligned with banking security standards); persistence methods (cookie, source-address) and their appropriate use cases; introduction to iRules with simple read-only examples (redirects, header insertion).
- Lab — Build an HTTPS virtual server with SSL offloading 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
- Networking basics — VLANs, routing, and ARP essentials; DNS resolution flow and record types; a recap of the TLS handshake.
- Device Service Clustering: establishing device trust, sync-failover groups, configuration synchronization, traffic groups, and floating IPs; failover behavior and client experience; HA design considerations for banking (dual-datacenter patterns, maintenance without downtime).
- 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 basics; a brief outlook on automation (iControl REST) and WAF (ASM/Advanced WAF) as subsequent topics.
- Lab — Construct an active/standby HA pair using the two BIG-IP VEs provided per trainee, establish device trust and configuration sync, execute a 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 receives a dedicated, isolated lab environment comprising two BIG-IP Virtual Edition instances (facilitating the Day 3 HA exercise) and shared backend web servers simulating application tiers. Access is fully browser-based via a secured Guacamole gateway, requiring only a web browser with no VPN client or local software installation. This setup simplifies participation from restricted banking workstations. The environment is pre-built and verified before Day 1, ensuring every trainee completes the first day with functioning traffic through their own BIG-IP instance.
Requirements
No previous experience with F5 is necessary.
While basic TCP/IP knowledge is beneficial, it is not assumed. Each day begins with concise networking introductions covering the OSI model, TCP/HTTP, and DNS/TLS, tailored to the day's F5 topics to ensure all participants reach a common baseline regardless of their prior experience.
Target Audience: Network engineers, security specialists, and application support or operations personnel within banking or financial institutions
Testimonials (1)
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