F5 Networks – Developing IRULES for BIG-IP

Course Duration

3 Days

Audience

Employees of federal, state and local governments; and businesses working with the government.

Prerequisites

Completion of F5 Networks – Administering BIG-IP or F5 Networks – Configuring BIG-IP LTM, or equivalent experience, is required.

Course Description

The course builds on the foundation of the Administering BIG-IP or Configuring LTM course, demonstrating how to logically plan and write iRules to help monitor and manage common tasks involved with processing traffic on the BIG-IP system. Extensive course labs consist of writing, applying and evaluating the effect of iRules on local traffic. This hands-on course includes lectures, labs, and discussions.

Learning Objectives

• Setting Up the BIG-IP System
• Getting Started with iRules
• Exploring iRule Elements
• Developing and Troubleshooting iRules
• Optimizing iRule Execution
• Securing Web Applications with iRules
• Working with Numbers and Strings
• Processing the HTTP Payload
• Working with iFiles and Data Groups
• Using iRules with Universal Persistence, Stream, and Statistics Profiles
• Incorporating Advanced Variables

Course Outline

• Introducing the BIG-IP System
• Initially Setting Up the BIG-IP System
• Archiving the BIG-IP System Configuration
• Leveraging F5 Support Resources and Tools
• Customizing Application Delivery with iRules
• Triggering an iRule
• Leveraging the DevCentral Ecosystem
• Creating and Deploying iRules
• Introducing iRule Constructs
• Understanding iRule Events and Event Context
• Working with iRule Commands
• Logging from an iRule Using SYSLOG-NG (LOG Command)
• Working with User-Defined Variables
• Working with Operators and Data Types
• Working with Conditional Control Structures (IF and SWITCH)
• Incorporating Best Practices in iRules
• Mastering Whitespace and Special Symbols
• Grouping Strings
• Developing and Troubleshooting Tips
• Using Fiddler to Test and Troubleshoot iRules
• Understanding the Need for Efficiency
• Measure iRule Runtime Efficiency Using Timing Statistics
• Modularizing iRules for Administrative Efficiency
• Using Procedures to Modularize Code
• Optimizing Logging
• Using High-Speed Logging Commands in an iRule
• Implementing Other Efficiencies
• Using Looping Control Structures (WHILE, FOR, FOREACH Commands)
• Integrating iRules into Web Application Defense
• Mitigating HTTP Version Attacks