How to Create F5 Monitor, Node, Pool, and Virtual Server

 

Part I: Create Monitor  

1. Login to F5 ( open additional tab, if needed, to copy settings from another item) 
2. Create Monitor (for SomeApp) as needed, only need 1 monitor per app, not env. 
3. Click on Monitor > +   
4. On General Properties page, enter Name, Description, Type ( choose HTTP) 
5. Under  Configuration in the Send String section, add the following 
   1. GET /<appname>/healthcheck\r\n 
6. On Receive String section add Health: OK 
7. Leave rest at default settings and click Finished  

Part II: Create Node (as needed)  

1. To create new node, click on Local Traffic > Nodes > Node List > + 
2. Fill in the following information in the General Properties section 
   1. Name:  Server short hostname, ie devXXX 
   2. Address:  IP Address for node, ie 192.168.100.X 
   3. Description:  <hostname> <appname> ie srvXXX-Application1 
3. In the Configuration Section, fill in the following 
   1. Health Monitor:  Node Specific 
   2. Select Monitor:  Choose icmp from available list and move to Active 
   3. Leave rest of settings at default and click on Finished  

Part III:  Create Pool  

1. To create new Pool, click on Local Traffic > Pools > Pool List + 
2. Fill in the following information in the Configuration Section 
   1. Note: SomeApp uses <env>service_<app>_<port> as name and ports start at somePort# and increase by XX.  
   2. example for app tms:  devservice_app_port#    
   3. Name:  <env>service_app_port 
   4. Description:  <Env> Web Service SomeApp <App> 
   5. Health Monitors:  Add http1.1 or Health Check for App (if they have it) to Active 
3. In the Resources section add the following information 
   1. Load Balancing: Leave as default Round Robin 
   2. Click on Node List and add Node you created above in Part II 
   3. Set the service port, usually 8080 for tomcat. 
   4. Click Add then click Finished 

Part IV: Create Virtual Server   

1. Create new Virtual Server, click on Virtual Servers > Virtual Server List + button 
2. Fill in the following information in the General Properties section. 
   1. NOTE:  name follows same format as Pool name for service, ie <env>service_<app>_<port> 
   2. Name:  <env>devservice_<app>_<port> 
   3. Description: ENV APP VIP 
   4. Source: 0.0.0.0/0 
   5. Destination: IP Address assigned  for VIP, see wiki 
      1. 192.168.100.200 (for dev) 
3. Fill in the following information for Configuration (Click Advanced) 
   1. Leave all as default unless specified below 
   2. Protocol profile (Client) :              service-tcp-profile 
   3. HTTP Profile:     http-xfwd 
   4. VLANS and Tunnels                         
      1. Enabled On 
      2. Select vlan123 
4. Fill in the following information for the Resources section 
   1. Default Pool: Choose the Pool Created above to match the app 
   2. Click on Finished to complete 

Part V: Sync Configuration   

1. To sync configuration to second f5 node click on ‘Changes Pending’ in upper left of browser 
2. Click on the (self) f5 that you are working on under the Devices section 
3. Make sure Sync Device to Group is selected under Sync Options 
4. Click on Sync    
5. Repeat all steps above for each environment and sync afterwards.