F5 Administering BIG-IP
Course Overview
Start with an empty configuration and finish the labs with a working application behind a virtual server. That hands-on thread runs through F5 Administering BIG-IP training, and it is the quickest way to understand what each BIG-IP object actually does.
The groundwork comes first. You license the system, provision resources, and set up VLANs, self IPs, and trunks so the device can reach both clients and servers. Next, you create nodes and a pool, attach a virtual server, and send a test request through it. Then you add a health monitor that marks a pool member down when its web service stops responding, and you see where the traffic goes instead.
Each later lesson adds a layer to the same build. Profiles change how a virtual server treats TCP and HTTP traffic. Persistence keeps a user on one server when the application needs it. NAT and SNAT settings decide which addresses appear on each side of a connection, so return traffic comes back through the BIG-IP system.
Administration tasks follow naturally. You work in the Configuration utility and in tmsh, review statistics, set up logging, save a UCS archive before a change, and define user roles and administrative partitions for colleagues. If something breaks, tcpdump and iHealth help you find out why.
The final lessons turn one device into two. You configure configuration sync, failover, and mirroring, then check that the standby takes over cleanly.
People who learn by doing will find the structure familiar. It suits administrators who want to understand every object by building it, and it lays the groundwork for several of F5’s more advanced BIG-IP courses.
Course Objectives
- Build a working application from scratch with nodes, a pool, a virtual server, and a load balancing method.
- Set up and license a new BIG-IP system and provision its resources.
- Create VLANs, self IPs, and trunks that connect the system to clients and servers.
- Attach health monitors and interpret object status when a pool member fails.
- Change traffic behaviour with profiles, persistence and SNAT.
- Work comfortably in both the Configuration utility and tmsh.
- Save and restore configuration using UCS archives.
- Configure logging, user roles and administrative partitions.
- Build a synced high availability pair and test failover with mirroring.
Prior Knowledge
The following free Self-Directed Training (SDT) courses, although optional, are helpful for any student with limited BIG-IP administration and configuration experience:
- Getting Started with BIG-IP
- Getting Started with Local Traffic Manager (LTM)
Target Audience
- F5 BIG-IP administrators: build a clear map of every object they already touch each day.
- Network engineers: see how BIG-IP sits between routing, switching and the application.
- Application delivery engineers: learn the operational baseline before designing traffic policies.
- Systems administrators: understand why a healthy server can still fail to receive traffic.
- Network security engineers: know how access, roles and logging are controlled on the platform.
- Data centre and infrastructure specialists: support high availability pairs and configuration backups with confidence.
- Operations staff: gain the monitoring and log-reading skills used during incidents.
- Teams planning a BIG-IP deployment: share one vocabulary before design work begins.
Course Content
3 modules · 66 topics01Module 1: BIG-IP Setup32 topics
- Introducing F5 Solutions
- Introducing the BIG-IP System
- Initially Setting Up a Standalone BIG-IP System
- Configuring the Management Interface
- Activating the Software License
- Provisioning Modules and Resources
- Importing a Device Certificate
- Specifying BIG-IP Platform Properties
- Configuring the Network
- Configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) Servers
- Configuring Domain Name System (DNS) Settings
- Backing Up and Restoring BIG-IP Configuration Data
- Using Single Configuration Files (SCF)
- Overview of the BIG-IP High Availability Feature
- Configuring DSC Communication Settings
- Establishing Device Trust
- Establishing a Sync-Failover Device Group
- Synchronizing Configuration Data
- Securing Management Access
- Securing Self IP Addresses with Port Lockdown
- Securing SSH Administrative Traffic
- Securing HTTPS Administrative Traffic
- Securing NTP Services
- Running BIG-IP in Appliance Mode
- Securing the Automatic Update Check and Phone Home Features
- Securing the Default System Maintenance Accounts
- Restricting Command Line Access by User
- Tracking User Access and Actions
- Enforcing a Secure Password Policy
- Securing Persistence Cookies
- Securing BIG-IP Generated HTTP Server Header Information
- Getting Help If You Are Under Attack or Experiencing a Security Breach
02Module 2: Local Traffic Basics16 topics
- Understanding BIG-IP Local Traffic Processing Configuration Objects
- Load Balancing Traffic through a BIG-IP System
- Monitoring Traffic Processing and Performance Using Statistics
- Managing the Status of Nodes and Pool Members
- Using the TMOS Shell (TMSH)
- Managing the BIG-IP System's Configuration State and Files
- Mapping IP Addresses with NATs
- Solving Routing Issues with Source Address and Port Translation
- Introducing Local Traffic Monitoring on the BIG-IP System
- Deploying a Local Traffic Monitor
- Managing Local Traffic Monitors During Application Delivery
- Overview of Modifying Traffic Behavior with Profiles
- Introducing SSL Offload and Re-encryption
- Introducing Persistence on the BIG-IP System
- Persisting Traffic Based on Source IP Address (Source Address Affinity)
- Understanding the Impact of Object State on Persistence
03Module 3: Administering BIG-IP18 topics
- Overview of Using TCPDUMP on a BIG-IP System
- Interpreting TCPDUMP Output
- Understanding TCPDUMP Filters and Options
- Analyzing TCPDUMP captures with WireShark
- Introducing BIG-IP System Logging Features
- Logging Locally on the BIG-IP System
- Logging Remotely Using High-Speed Logging (HSL)
- Configuring Audit Logging for the BIG-IP System
- Creating and Uploading a QKView
- Viewing Diagnostics and Status Information
- Troubleshooting
- Examining the BIG-IP Configuration
- Defining User Roles and Administrative Partitions
- Overview of Upgrading a BIG-IP System
- Planning for a BIG-IP System Upgrade
- Preparing to Upgrade a BIG-IP System
- Installing an Upgrade on a BIG-IP System
- Considerations when Upgrading a Sync-Failover Device Group
Schedule Dates
4 upcoming batches| Batch Dates | Duration | Batch Options | Language | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 November 2026 - 24 November 2026 | 2 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 01 March 2027 - 02 March 2027 | 2 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 07 June 2027 - 08 June 2027 | 2 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic | |
| 13 September 2027 - 14 September 2027 | 2 Days | 4 hours & 8 hours | English / Arabic |
Can’t find a suitable date? Request a schedule that fits your team.
Request More InformationF5 BIG-IP Training in Oman for Vision 2040 Digital Services
Muscat is home to many banks and government bodies, while Sohar and Salalah are known for their ports and industrial activity. Those organisations depend on applications that have to stay reachable around the clock, from banking platforms to logistics and terminal systems. F5 Administering BIG-IP training in Oman gives their network and infrastructure teams a practical way to learn how applications are delivered and kept available. National planning under Vision 2040 puts weight on digital development, and oil and gas operators, banks, and logistics companies all rely on dependable networks. The skills involved are concrete: set up BIG-IP, configure pools and monitors, and keep a failover pair in sync. Engineers looking for a BIG-IP administration course Muscat teams can plan around can review the objectives above, then browse our F5 course range to see what comes next. Related skills are covered in our application delivery training. When you are ready, request the course outline from the training team.
FAQs
What exactly is the Administering BIG-IP course?
It is F5’s starting-point course on operating a BIG-IP system. You learn what the system does, how its configuration objects relate to each other, and how everyday administrative work is carried out. Lectures, labs, and demonstrations are used. The material also forms the prerequisite knowledge for many other F5 BIG-IP courses.
What does BIG-IP actually do in a network?
It sits between users and application servers and decides where each request goes. As a full proxy, it ends the client connection, applies your configuration, and opens its own connection to the chosen server. That allows load balancing, health checking, address translation, and failover from one device. The course teaches the objects behind each of those functions.
Is the course suitable for a team lead or a new hire?
Yes, both can benefit. It is written for network administrators, operators, and engineers who manage day-to-day BIG-IP operations. A team lead gets a clear picture of how the platform is built and run, and a new hire gets hands-on practice. No prior BIG-IP experience is required, though networking fundamentals help.
Do I need F5 experience first?
No. F5 lists no required F5 prerequisites. It does recommend general networking knowledge, such as TCP/IP, IP addressing and subnetting, routing and switching, Ethernet and ARP, NAT, default gateways, firewalls, and LAN and WAN concepts. For extra preparation, F5 offers optional, free Getting Started web-based courses on BIG-IP and BIG-IP LTM.
What can I build by the end of the labs?
You can build a complete basic application setup with nodes, a pool, a virtual server, and a health monitor, adding profiles, persistence, or SNAT where needed. You can also save a UCS archive, create administrator accounts with defined roles, and configure a synchronised failover pair. These tasks mirror the daily work of a BIG-IP administrator.
If I finish the course, am I F5 certified?
No. Finishing the course means you attended the training. Certification is a separate step that requires passing the applicable F5 exams. F5’s BIG-IP Administrator certification now consists of five exams, and the older 201 exam is limited to candidates who were already eligible. Read F5’s exam pages for the latest rules, as they can change.
Why bother with health monitors and failover?
Servers and devices do fail, and users should not be the first to find out. A health monitor detects a failed pool member and stops traffic to it. Failover moves service to a standby unit when the active one is down. Together, they can turn a possible outage into a short event that your logs record and your team can review.
How does the course fit into my development plan?
Use it as a practical foundation. It teaches operational skills that many BIG-IP roles use, and it presents prerequisite knowledge for many other F5 BIG-IP courses. Whether you later choose deeper traffic management, troubleshooting or security training is up to you and your employer. The course does not promise a certification, a job or a salary change.
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