By the end of this course, the student should be able to perform an initial configuration using the Setup Utility and build many common configurations using the Graphical User Interface (browser-based). In addition, the student should be able to monitor and manage common tasks concerning traffic processed through the BIG-IP GTM system.

Topics covered in this course include:

• Installation and Licensing
• DNS Overview
• Accelerated DNS Resolutions
• Intelligent DNS Resolutions
• LDNS Probes and Metrics
• Load Balancing
• Monitors and Probes
• Configuration Files, Logs, and Notifications
• Advanced Topics – DNSSEC, iRules, Synchronization, DNS Integration, iHealth
• Configuration Project

Chapter 1: Setting Up the BIG-IP System

• Introducing the BIG-IP System
• Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
• Creating an Archive of the BIG-IP System
• F5 Support Resources and Tools

Chapter 2: DNS and GTM Systems

• DNS Overview
• The Name Resolution Process
• DNS and GTM System Options
• Resolution Diagnostic Tools

Chapter 3: Accelerated DNS Resolutions

• Global Traffic Manager and DNS Resolutions
• Hierarchy of Options Flow Chart
• Lab Setup Information
• GTM Listeners
• Load Balancing DNS Queries
• DNS Cache
• DNS Express
• Introduction to Wide IPs
• Other DNS Queries
• Integrating GTM into Existing DNS Systems

Chapter 4: Intelligent DNS Resolutions

• GTM Intelligent DNS Resolutions
• Metric Collection
• Intelligent Name Resolution
• Data Centers
• Adding GTM Systems
• Adding LTM Systems
• GTM-LTM System Communications: iQuery
• Adding Non-F5 Servers
• Links
• Wide IP Pools
• Wide IPs
• Changing Object Status
• Traffic Management Shell (TMSH)

Chapter 5: LDNS Probes and Metrics

• Probes and Metrics Overview
• LDNS Probe Configuration

Chapter 6: Load Balancing

• Load Balancing Overview
• Static Load Balancing Modes
• Dynamic Load Balancing Modes
• Quality of Service Load Balancing
• Dynamic Persistence
• Manual Resume
• Topology Load Balancing

Chapter 7: Monitors

• Monitors and Metric Collection
• Monitor Types
• Monitor Configuration
• Monitor Assignments
• Monitor Status Reporting
• Monitor Results and Best Practices

Chapter 8: Configuration Files, Logs, and Notifications

• BIG-IP Configuration Files
• Logging and Notification
• GTM Log Files
• The Alert Process
• LCD Notification
• Email Notification
• High-Speed Logging
• Monitoring the BIG-IP System Remotely with SNMP

Chapter 9: Advanced Topics

• DNSSEC
• Limits and Thresholds
• GTM iRules
• Synchronization Groups
• BIG-IP iHealth and QKView Diagnostic Files
• DNS 6 to 4
• Using tcpdump on the BIG-IP System

This course is intended for network operators, network administrators, network engineers, network architects, security administrators, and security architects responsible for installation, setup, configuration, and administration of the BIG-IP GTM system.

Participants should understand:

• Common Network terminology,
• TCP/IP Addressing and Routing,
• Internetworking concepts,
• Common elements of WAN and LAN environments,
• Data Center Server redundancy concepts.
• Basic PC operation and application skills, including operating a CD drive, keyboard, mouse and Windows OS, Basic Web Browser operation (Internet Explorer is used in class).