Creating a Virtual Server on F5

Learn to set up a virtual server on F5 BIG-IP to manage network traffic efficiently and ensure reliable application delivery. This guide will cover creating nodes and pools to facilitate traffic distribution and load balancing.

Prerequisites

In order to use the F5 Anti Bot verification app in conjunction with Appdome, you’ll need:

• A configured and accessible BIG-IP server
• A server protected by F5’s BIG-IP

Definitions

• Node: A server with an IP address that processes incoming network traffic.
• Pool: A collection of nodes that work together to provide high availability and redundancy. Pools use load-balancing methods to distribute incoming traffic evenly among nodes, improving network efficiency and reliability.
• FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name): This refers to the complete domain name for a specific server or host on the Internet. It includes both the domain name and it can be used in lieu of an IP address for setting up network nodes.

Steps to Create a Virtual Server

1. 1. Access the BIG-IP Configuration Utility:
      • Log in to your F5 BIG-IP system.
      • Navigate to the ‘Local Traffic’ section in the main menu.
   2. Open the Virtual Servers Configuration:
      • Select ‘Virtual Servers’ from the sub-menu under ‘Local Traffic’.
      • Click on the ‘Create'(+) button to start the setup of a new virtual server.
        
   3. Configure Virtual Server Settings:
      • Name: Enter a unique name for the virtual server.
      • Source Address: Set to ‘0.0.0.0/0’ to allow traffic from all addresses.
      • Destination Address/Mask: Enter the destination server address to which the F5 platform will route the traffic by default unless a connection Pool is in use.
      • Service Port: Typically set to ‘443’ for HTTPS traffic.
   4. Create Nodes:
      • Navigate to ‘Nodes’ under ‘Local Traffic’.
      • Click ‘Create'(+)
        
   5. Fill in the necessary details:
      • Name: A descriptive label for the node.
      • Description: Optionally, Add a description.
      • Address: Enter the backend server’s IP address or fully qualified domain name. Using FQDN allows the system to resolve the address dynamically if the IP changes.
        
   6. Create a Pool:
      • Navigate to ‘Pools’ under ‘Local Traffic’.
      • Click on the ‘Create'(+) button.
        

1. 1. Configure Pool Settings:
      • Name: Give the pool a name that indicates its purpose or the services it supports.
      • Description: Optionally, provide a detailed description of the pool’s intended use or configuration.
      • Health Monitors: Assign health monitors to automatically verify node functionality, ensuring that traffic is only directed to operational nodes. Select from the ‘Available’ list and use the arrows to move them to the ‘Active’ list.
      • Load Balancing Method: Select a method for distributing traffic among the nodes in the pool. Common methods include:
        • Round Robin: Distributes requests sequentially among the available nodes.
        • Ratio (member): Routes more requests to servers with higher assigned weights.
        • Least Connections (member): Directs requests to the server with the fewest active connections.
        • Ratio (node): Assigns more requests to nodes with higher weights.
        • Least Connections (node): Sends requests to the node with the fewest active connections.
        • Weighted Least Connections (member): Prefers servers with fewer connections and higher weights.
        • Weighted Least Connections (node): Chooses nodes with fewer connections and higher weights.
        • Ratio Least Connections (member): Combines server weight with the number of connections to decide routing.
        • Ratio Least Connections (node): Applies weight and connection count to nodes for distributing requests.
      • Priority Group Activation: This can be set to ‘Disabled’.
      • Add Nodes to the Pool:
        The traffic from the pool will be routed to this node. 
        Click ‘Add’ in the ‘New Members’ section and provide details for each node, including Node Name, Address/FQDN, and Service Port.
        

1. Associate Pool with a Virtual Server
   • Open Virtual Server Settings: Go to ‘Local Traffic’ > ‘Virtual Servers’.
   • Select Your Virtual Server: Click to edit settings.
   • Link to Pool: Locate the ‘Default Pool’ setting and select the pool you created.
   • Review all settings and click ‘Finished’ to save and activate the virtual server.
     

Troubleshooting

Virtual Server Not Receiving Traffic:

Check the destination address and service port configurations.

Changes to Configuration Not Effective:

Ensure all changes are saved and consider service restarts if needed.

FAQs

Q: Why set the source address to ‘0.0.0.0/0’?

A: This allows the server to accept traffic from any IP, avoiding blockages based on source address.

Q: Why use port 443?

A: Port 443 is the standard for HTTPS, providing encrypted and secure communication.

Related Articles:

• • MobileBOT™ Defense
  • Configuring SSL for F5 BIG-IP

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