This 2-day course gives networking professionals a functional understanding of the BIG-IP DNS system as it is commonly used.

The course covers configuration and ongoing management of the BIG-IP DNS system, and includes a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on labs.

Course Topics

• Overview of the Domain Name System and DNS resolution flow through BIG-IP DNS
• Configuring DNS listeners
• Accelerating DNS resolution with DNS Express, DNS cache, and DNS server load balancing
• Intelligent DNS resolution with wide IPs and wide IP pools
• Using probes and metrics to assist the intelligent DNS resolution process
• Intelligent DNS load balancing methods
• Monitoring intelligent DNS resources
• Logging GSLB load balancing decisions
• Using DNSSEC
• Integrating iRules in the DNS resolution process
• Managing BIG-IP DNS sync groups

• Provision the BIG-IP system for operation
• Back up the BIG-IP system configuration for safekeeping
• Describe how the Domain Name System (DNS) resolves host names into IP addresses
• Describe how the BIG-IP DNS system can participate in the DNS resolution process DNS resolution with wide IPs and wide IP pools
• Describe how the BIG-IP DNS system can participate in the DNS resolution process
• Cache DNS query responses on BIG-IP DNS to accelerate DNS resolution
• Load balance DNS queries to a pool of DNS servers and monitor pool health
• Configure the key features of the BIG-IP DNS system to perform intelligent DNS resolution
• Describe the LDNS probes used by BIG-IP DNS to support path-based load balancing
• Configure a wide IP pool to use a path load balancing method
• View and confirm DNS resolution behavior using path load balancing methods
• Use static and dynamic load balancing methods to intelligently resolve DNS queries
• Use persistence to effectively return one or more clients to the same virtual server on each query
• Use manual resume to control certain load balancing behavior in the event of an outage
• Configure and use load balancing decision logs to fine-tune and troubleshoot DNS resolution
• Configure monitors on the BIG-IP DNS system in support of DNS resolution
• Configure BIG-IP DNS to participate in the DNSSEC chain of trust
• Configure limit settings on virtual servers, servers, and wide IP pools to temporarily direct client traffic away from resources that may not be performing at certain thresholds of efficiency
• Configure iRules on a wide IP to customize intelligent DNS resolution
• Describe the other wide IP types provided with BIG-IP DNS
• Configure a BIG-IP DNS sync group
• Apply all the principles learned throughout the course to configure a BIG-IP DNS system based on hypothetical specifications

Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System

• Introducing the BIG-IP System
• Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
• Archiving the BIG-IP Configuration
• Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools

Chapter 2: Introducing the Domain Name System (DNS) and BIG-IP DNS

• Understanding the Domain Name System (DNS)
• Reviewing the Name Resolution Process
• Implementing BIG-IP DNS
• Using DNS Resolution Diagnostic Tools

Chapter 3: Accelerating DNS Resolution

• Introducing DNS Resolution with BIG-IP DNS
• BIG-IP DNS Resolution Decision Flow
• Configuring BIG-IP DNS Listeners
• Resolving DNS Queries in the Labs (Lab Zone Records)
• Load Balancing Queries to a DNS Server Pool
• Accelerating DNS Resolution with DNS Cache
• Accelerating DNS Resolution with DNS Express
• Introducing Wide IPs
• Using Other Resolution Methods with BIG-IP DNS
• Integrating BIG-IP DNS into Existing DNS Environments

Chapter 4: Implementing Intelligent DNS Resolutions

• Introducing Intelligent DNS Resolution
• Identifying Physical Network Components
• Identifying Logical Network Components
• Collecting Metrics for Intelligent Resolution
• Configuring Data Centers
• Configuring a BIG-IP DNS System as a Server
• Configuring a BIG-IP LTM System as a Server
• Establishing iQuery Communication between BIG-IP Systems
• Configuring a Non-F5 Server
• Defining Links and Routers
• Configuring Wide IP Pools
• Configuring Wide IPs
• Managing Object Status and State
• Using the Traffic Management Shell (TMSH)

Chapter 5: Using LDNS Probes and Metrics

• Introducing LDNS Probes and Metrics
• Types of LDNS Probes
• Excluding an LDNS from Probing
• Configuring Probe Metrics Collection

Chapter 6: Load Balancing Intelligent DNS Resolution

• Introducing Load Balancing on BIG-IP DNS

Using Static Load Balancing Methods

• Round Robin
• Ratio
• Global Availability
• Static Persist
• Other Static Load Balancing Methods

Using Dynamic Load Balancing Methods

• Round Trip Time
• Completion Rate
• CPU
• Hops
• Least Connections
• Packet Rate
• Kilobytes per Second
• Other Dynamic Load Balancing Methods
• Using Quality of Service Load Balancing
• Persisting DNS Query Responses
• Configuring GSLB Load Balancing Decision Logs
• Using Manual Resume
• Using Topology Load Balancing

Chapter 7: Monitoring Intelligent DNS Resources

• Exploring Monitors
• Configuring Monitors
• Assigning Monitors to Resources
• Monitoring Best Practices

Chapter 8: Advanced BIG-IP DNS Topics

• Implementing DNSSEC
• Setting Limits for Resource Availability
• Using iRules with Wide IPs
• Introducing Other Wide IP Types
• Implementing BIG-IP DNS Sync Groups

This course is intended for system and network administrators responsible for installation, setup, configuration, and administration of BIG-IP DNS systems.

There are no F5-technology-specific prerequisites for this course: However, completing the following before attending would be helpful for students with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience:

• 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.

• Getting Started with BIG-IP web-based training
• Getting Started with BIG-IP DNS 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:

• DNS resolution process
• Experience configuring DNS content and resolution servers
• DNSSEC