BIG IP F5 LTM Tutorial - Part 9

Now we are ready to Configure BIG IP F5 LTM through CLI mode and after this post every one will know that in reality configuring through CLI is VERY EASY.

CLI Configuration of Nodes, Pool Member, Pools, Virtual Server & Monitors

Ø  Telnet / SSH to BIG IP Box

Ø  After success full login you will get prompt : [root@chetan:Active] config #

Ø  This prompt or CLI mode is the legacy CLI mode but we are not going to use this CLI mode.

Ø  We will be working with shell mode, for shell mode type “tmsh” and hit enter. You will go to BIG IP shell mode & will get prompt root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# . ( TMOS that we discussed Part2 ) 

Note : To auto complete your command you can use "Tab" button. It will help you to complete the command & '?" is to check the available options. ( Same as Cisco )

Configure Node & assign ICMP monitor:-

 root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm node 172.16.1.2 up

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm node 172.16.1.2 monitor icmp

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm node 172.16.1.2 screen TEST_SER1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm node 172.16.1.1 up

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm node 172.16.1.1 monitor icmp

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm node 172.16.1.1 screen TEST_SER2

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm node  172.16.1.1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm node  172.16.1.2

Configure Pool, Adding Members from Node list; Assign Monitors & Load balancing method

Ø  Assign Custom Monitors

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm pool MY_SER1 members add { 172.16.1.1:80 }

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm monitor http TEST_HTTP send GET/index.html interval 10 timeout 30

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1  monitor TEST_HTTP

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1  load-balancing-mode round-robin

Ø  Assign Default Monitors

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm pool MY_SER2 members add { 172.16.1.2:443 }

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER2 monitor https_443

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER2  load-balancing-mode round-robin

Ø  Verification Command

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm pool MY_SER1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm pool MY_SER2

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm pool MY_SER1  members

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm pool MY_SER2  members

Configure Virtual Server and Assign Pool

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTP destination 1.1.1.1:80

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTP  pool MY_SER1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTP

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# create ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTPS destination 2.2.2.2:443

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTPS  pool MY_SER2

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm virtual MY_SERVER_HTTPS

To Delete Config

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# delete  ltm virtual MY_SERVER

Note : If you remember we discussed the CLI hierarchy in Part6, if you won't remember then  please check & come back, so that you can easily understand the Command line interface. It will explain you that why & when to use ltm , sys, net ...etc.

Show Command:

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show sys hardware

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show sys license

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show sys version

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show sys cpu

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh net route

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh net arp

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh net interface

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh net vlan

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm virtual MY_SERVER

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm pool MY_POOL members

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm node  172.16.1.1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# show ltm virtual-address

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config net interface

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config net vlan

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config net route

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config net self

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config ltm virtual

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config ltm pool

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config ltm pool members

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config ltm node

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# sh running-config ltm virtual-address all-properties

[root@chetan:Active] config # bigtop –n (real time statistics)

Type of Load balancing:  Static & Dynamic

Static Load balancing              : Ratio & Round Robin

Dynamic Load Balancing        : Least Connection, Fastest, Observed, Predictive, Dynamic Ratio

dynamic-ratio-member	observed-node
dynamic-ratio-node	predictive-member
fastest-app-response	predictive-node
fastest-node	ratio-member
least-connections-member	ratio-node
least-connections-node	round-robin
least-sessions	weighted-least-connections-member
observed-member	weighted-least-connections-node

Advance Configuration:

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm node 172.16.1.1 ratio 10

ü  Specifies the fixed ratio value used for a node during ratio-node load balancing.

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1 members modify { all { priority-group 10 } 172.16.1.1:http }

ü  Specifies the priority group within the pool for this pool member. The priority group number specifies that traffic is directed to that member before being directed to a member of a lower priority. The default value is 1. This feature is use when you need logical grouping in your pool & treat them as a primary server & secondary server. The Traffic will be forwarded to primary or higher priority group server unless those servers fail or reach their fail threshold.  (Priority group is by default disabled )

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1  members modify { all { connection-limit 1000 } }

ü  Specifies the maximum number of concurrent connections allowed for a pool member. The default value is 0 (zero)

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1  members modify { all { dynamic-ratio 10 } }

ü  Specifies a range of numbers that you want the system to use in conjunction with the ratio load balancing method. The default value is 1

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1 members modify { all { state down }}

ü  Marks the pool member up or down. The default value is up

root@chetan(Active)(tmos)# modify ltm pool MY_SER1 min-active-members (value)

ü  Specifies the minimum number of pool members that must be up; otherwise the system takes the action specified in the min-up-members-action option. Use this option for gateway pools in a redundant system where a unit number is applied to the pool. This indicates that the pool is only configured on the specified unit.

Note: All advance option is not covered here & for further detail please visit www.f5.com