System Requirements¶
Prior to installing the BIG-IP Next for Kubernetes, ensure that you have the required setup listed in this section.
Important
BIG-IP Next for Kubernetes with NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPU installation has been tested with the DPU dedicated to BIG-IP Next for Kubernetes software. Any other software installed on the DPU can cause performance issues and could potentially cause the DPU node to become inoperable in the Kubernetes cluster.
Note: F5 does not assume responsibility for the validity of the third party links or their contents mentioned below.
| Sequence No. | Requirement | Supported Version | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOCA | v2.9.2 | The NVIDIA BlueField-3 (DPU) and Host should have DOCA installed. For more information on how to configure DOCA, see Installing Software on BlueField, NVIDIA DOCA Profiles, and Installation Files. |
| 2 | RShim | - | Install and Enable RShim on Host. Installing DOCA-Host Profile all will downloads the RShim by default. For more information, see NVIDIA DOCA Profiles. |
| 3 | Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) | - | Enable SRIOV in the BIOS settings during reboot. |
| 4 | Virtual Functions (VFs) | - | To configure VFs, see Virtual Functions. |
| 5 | Scalable Functions (SF) | - | Scalable Functions (SF) are similar to Virtual Functions (VF) and must be configured on the DPU for TMM. It is recommended to create multiple SFs (SF pool) for each Physical Function (PF), For the procedure to create SFs, see Scalable Functions. Note: F5 recommends to have atleast two SFs per DPU. |
| 6 | OpenvSwitch | - | The OpenvSwitch configuration enables you to establish connectivity between the host (VF) and the BlueField-3/DPU (SF) using the utility ovs-vsctl. Establish two OVS bridges, one for internal network and another for external network. |
| 7 | Hugepages | - | Hugepages are necessary for the proper functioning of both the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) and the Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK). |
| 8 | Virtual Function I/O (VFIO) | - | The Virtual Function I/O (VFIO) framework enables userspace drivers to securely interact with devices. |
| 9 | Helm | - | Install helm. |
| 10 | IPv6 | - | Prior to installing Kubernetes, set up static IPv6 settings on the Host and DPU nodes to create a dualstack cluster. |
| 11 | Kubernetes | v1.30.10 | Deploy the Kubernetes version 1.29 or latest on both the DPU and Host. |
| 12 | Container Network Interface (CNI) | - | CNI fulfills Kubernetes' networking requirements and ensures seamless communication between containers, pods, and services. F5 tested BIG-IP Next for Kubernetes with Calico CNI. |
| 13 | Storage Class | NFS CSI driver v4.10.0 | For more information, see Create Storage Class. |
| 14 | SR-IOV Network Device Plugin | - | SR-IOV Network Device Plugin exposes the SF on the DPU node to Kubernetes. To configure SR-IOV Plugin, see SR-IOV Network Device Plugin. |
| 15 | Multus Network Attachment Definition | - | The Multus Network Attachment Definition enables the connection of the underlay network (SF) to the Kubernetes pod (TMM). For more information, see Multus Network Attachment Definition. |
Next Steps:
