The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
Purpose of this document
This document outlines topic areas covered on the F5 BIG-IP Administrator Certification Exam and resources available to help prepare test takers. For more information on full proxy architecture, please read the TMOS: Redefining the Solution white paper.
1. Troubleshooting virtual server connectivity
1.1 Connectivity, packet, and virtual server processing orders
- SOL2772: Order of precedence for virtual server matching
- SOL411: Overview of packet tracing with the tcpdump utility:
- SOL8082: Overview of TCP connection set-up for BIG-IP LTM virtual server types
- Manual Chapter: Introducing BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager
- Troubleshooting LTM Monitors
- Troubleshooting LTM Monitors
- SOL12531: Troubleshooting health monitors
- SOL10516: Overview of BIG-IP pool status
- SOL10966: Determining which monitor triggered a change in the availability of a node or pool member
- Persistent and Persistence, What’s the Difference?
- Single Node Persistence
- Sessions and Cookies and Persistence,
- Session Management (Wikipedia)
1.2 Troubleshooting virtual servers
· DevCentral: Pool member won’t work through BIG-IP LTM
1.3 Troubleshooting pool members
1.4 Persistence
2. Troubleshooting basic hardware issues
2.1 End User Diagnostics and Output
- Supplemental Document: EUD 11.4 Field Testing BIG-IP Hardware
- Operating the LCD Panel
- SOL4263: New front panel LED indicator behavior in BIG-IP version 9.x
- SOL10161: The Activity LED operation on 8400 platforms
- Writing to and rotating custom log files
- Monitoring & Managing LTM Log Files
- https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/11000/700/sol11736.html?sr=22276190
- https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/13000/400/sol13478.html
2.2 LCD Warning Messages
2.3 Troubleshooting Hardware with log files
2.4 Failover scenarios
3. Troubleshooting basic performance issues
3.1 Perform a packet capture within the context of a performance issue.
- F5 Networks Troubleshooting BIG-IP LTM v10.2.1 Module 5, Troubleshooting – Bottom to Top
- F5 Networks Troubleshooting BIG-IP LTM v10.2.1 Module 6, Troubleshooting Tools
- SOL411: Overview of packet tracing with the tcpdump utility:
- SOL9704:Capturing and viewing packets
- SOL6546: Recommended methods and limitations for running tcpdump on a BIG-IP system
- F5 Networks Troubleshooting BIG-IP LTM v10.2.1 Module 7, Logs and Notification
3.2 Use BIG-IP tools in order to identify potential performance issues
4. Troubleshooting basic device management connectivity issues
4.1 Verify remote connectivity to the box in order to determine the cause of a management connectivity issue.
- Configuring Network Access Resources
- Diagnosing Network Connection Issues
- Defining Connectivity Options
- About Network Access
4.2 Check and interpret port lockdown settings in order to determine the cause of a management connectivity issue
SOL13250 : Overview of port lockdown behavior (10.x – 11.x)
4.3 Check and interpret packet filters in order to determine the cause of a management connectivity issue.
4.4 Given the use of a remote authentication server, verify proper DNS settings in order to diagnose a connectivity issue.
5. Open a support ticket with F5
5.1 Identify the appropriate supporting components and severity levels for an F5Support ticket.
- Severity Levels and Response Times listed in the WBT F5 Networks Technical Support Overview.
- http://www.f5.com/services/customer-support/
- http://www.f5.com/pdf/customer-support/guidelines-and-policies-ds.pdf
- http://www.f5.com/services/customer-support/
- http://www.f5.com/flash/technical-support-overview/
5.2 Assessing issue severity
5.3 Assembling accurate problem description
- http://www.f5.com/services/customer-support/
- sol2633: Instructions for submitting a support case to F5
5.4 F5 escalation method
6. Identify and report current device status
6.1 Network Map
- LTM Essentials WBT – Module 2
- support.f5.com » Home » Supported Products » BIG-IP LTM / VE » BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager: Concepts
- https://devcentral.f5.com/Multimedia/DCTV/Player/TabId/1086258/VideoId/77/BIGIP-V10-Dashboard.aspx
- support.f5.com » Supported Products » BIG-IP LTM / VE » BIG-IP Systems: Getting Started Guide » Monitoring the BIG-IP System
- Instructor-led training: Troubleshooting BIG-IP LTM
- support.f5.com » Supported Products » BIG-IP Analytics » product » BIG-IP Analytics: Implementations
6.2 Dashboard
6.3 Review Log Files
6.4 iApps Analytics
7. Maintain system configuration
7.1: Create and restore a UCS archive under the appropriate circumstances
- TMOS Management Guide for BIG-IP Systems v10.x | Creating and Managing Archives
- BIG-IP TMOS: Concepts v11.2 | Archives (online)
- BIG-IP TMOS: Concepts v11.2 | Chapter 9: Archives (pdf)
- SOL4423: Overview of UCS Archives
- SOL13132 Backing up and restoring BIG-IP configuration (11.x)
- SOL11318: Backing up and restoring BIG-IP configuration files (10.x)
- SOL3499: Backing up and restoring BIG-IP version 9.x configuration files
- SOL13136: The UCS configuration archive cannot be restored on a platform other than the one on which the archive was created
- SOL9420: Installing a UCS file containing an encrypted passphrase
- BIG-IP Systems: Getting Started Guide v10.x | Preparing the System for Installation
- SOL13294: Change in Behavior: Installing a UCS configuration archive now restores the full configuration
- Enterprise Manager Getting Started Guide v2.3.0 (online)
- Enterprise Manager Getting Started Guide v2.3.0 (pdf))
- Enterprise Manager Administrator Guide v2.3.0 (online)
- Enterprise Manager Administrator Guide v2.3.0 (pdf)
- Enterprise Manager Getting Started Guide v3.0.0 (online)
- Enterprise Manager Administrator Guide (online)
- Enterprise Manager Monitoring Network Health and Activity (online)
- Enterprise Manager Getting Started Guide v2.3.0 (online)
- Enterprise Manager Getting Started Guide v2.3.0 (pdf))
- Enterprise Manager Administrator Guide v2.3.0 (online)
- Enterprise Manager Administrator Guide v2.3.0 (pdf)
7.2: Identify the components and methods associated with automating and scheduling tasks with the Enterprise Manager
7.3: Automate and schedule tasks using Enterprise Manager
7.4: Manage software images
- BIG-IP Redundant Systems Configuration Guide v11.0
- SOL8086: Replacing a BIG-IP system in a redundant pair without interrupting service
- BIG-IP System: Upgrading Active/Standby Systems v11.0 (online)
- BIG-IP System: Upgrading Active Standby Systems v11.0 (pdf)
- BIG-IP System: Upgrading Active/Active Systems v11.0 (online)
- BIG-IP System: Upgrading Active Active Systems v11.0 (pdf)
- SOL13123: Managing BIG-IP product hotfixes (11.x)
- BIG-IP Systems: Getting Started Guide v10.x | Preparing the System for Installation
- SOL4178: Booting the BIG-IP system in single-user mode
- SOL13117: Performing a clean installation of BIG-IP version 11.x
- SOL13127: Restoring the BIG-IP configuration to factory default settings 11.x
- SOL10449: Upgrading the software version or applying a hotfix to BIG-IP GTM v10.x
- Configuration Guide for the VIPRION System | Upgrading the VIPRION System
- BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager v11.2: Concepts
- SOL8018: Overview of the BIG-IP HTTP class traffic flow
- BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager v11.2: Implementations
- LTM Essentials Web-based Training Course
- LTM Configuration Instructor Led Training Course
- SOL10640: Pool member reselection options
- SOL13675: Overview of the stateless virtual server
- SOL12272: Overview of virtual server types for BIG-IP version 10.x
- HTTP Basics I Web Based Training Course
- HTTP Basics II Web Based Training Course
- BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager v11.2: Concepts
- SOL8018: Overview of the BIG-IP HTTP class traffic flow
- BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager v11.2: Implementations
- LTM Essentials Web-based Training Course
- LTM Configuration Instructor Led Training Course
- SOL10640: Pool member reselection options
8. Manage existing system and application services
8.1: Modify and manage virtual servers
8.2: Modify and manage pools