How to: Configure FastL4 ePVA settings for deployment through BIG-IP Next Central Manager¶

Overview¶

The embedded Packet Velocity Acceleration (ePVA) chip is a hardware acceleration Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that delivers high-performance Layer 4 (L4) IPv4 throughput. The use of an FPGA allows the ePVA firmware to be updated, as required, for future upgrades and hotfixes.

The default (HTTP) template does not support FastL4 ePVA settings; creating a custom template is required.

Prerequisites¶

Installation of BIG-IP Next Central Manager is complete.
Installation of BIG-IP Next on a VELOS platform - F5OS-C VELOS release v1.61 - is complete.

Procedure¶

Create a custom template and deploy an application service to support FastL4 ePVA settings.

Log in to BIG-IP Next Central Manager.
Click the Workspaces menu (upper-left corner).
In the left pane, click Applications > Application Templates.
Select the check box next to the name of an existing template. Example: http
Click Clone.
For Name, type a new name. Example: clone_http_evpa

In the Template Body, make Changes to two places - (1) and (2).

In the Template Body, find the Location to add.
Copy the Code to add and paste into Location to add/<—Add here—>.

(1)
Location to add:

FastL4_idleTimeout:
  title: Idle Timeout
  description: FastL4 Idle Timeout
  type: integer
  minimum: 0
  maximum: 3600
  default: 600
  dependencies: { enable_FastL4: true }
  uiMetaCM:
    order: 31
    column: 3
    columnName: Protocols & Profiles
<---Add here--->

Code to add:

FastL4_pvaAcceleration:
  title: PVA acceleration
  description: Specifies the preferred acceleration mode for the Packet Velocity ASIC (PVA), if the platform supports PVA acceleration. Full, Specifies that the system applies full PVA acceleration when possible. Assisted, Specifies that the system applies partial PVA acceleration. None, Specifies that the system does not use PVA acceleration. Dedicated, Unconditionally enables ePVA acceleration for all TCP FastL4 connections. Inactive, but established, connections are not removed from the ePVA to guarantee low latency forwarding for future packets.
  type: string
  enum:
      [
        'full',
        'assisted',
        'none',
        'dedicated',
      ]
   default: full
   dependencies: { enable_FastL4: true }
   uiMetaCM:
     order: 37
     column: 3
     columnName: Protocols & Profiles
FastL4_pvaDynamicServerPackets:
   title: PVA Dynamic Server Packets
   description: Indicates the number of server packets before dynamic ePVA hardware re-offloading occurs. The valid range is from 0 (zero) through 10.
   type: integer
   minimum: 0
   maximum: 10
   default: 0
   dependencies: { enable_FastL4: true }
   uiMetaCM:
     order: 38
     column: 3
     columnName: Protocols & Profiles
FastL4_pvaDynamicClientPackets:
   title: PVA Dynamic Client Packets
   description: Indicates the number of client packets before dynamic ePVA hardware re-offloading occurs. The valid range is from 0 (zero) through 10.
   type: integer
   minimum: 0
   maximum: 10
   default: 1
   dependencies: { enable_FastL4: true }
   uiMetaCM:
     order: 39
     column: 3
     columnName: Protocols & Profiles

(2) Location to add:

{{/enable_TCP_Profile}}
{{#enable_FastL4}}
    "l4Profile_{{virtualName}}": {
        "class": "L4_Profile",
        "idleTimeout": {{FastL4_idleTimeout}},
        "looseClose": {{FastL4_looseClose}},
        "looseInitialization": {{FastL4_looseInitialization}},
        "resetOnTimeout": {{FastL4_resetOnTimeout}},
        "tcpCloseTimeout": {{FastL4_tcpCloseTimeout}},
        "tcpHandshakeTimeout": {{FastL4_tcpHandshakeTimeout}},
<---Add here--->

Code to add:

"pvaAccelerationMode": {{FastL4_pvaAcceleration}},
"pvaDynamicCientPackets": {{FastL4_pvaDynamicServerPackets}},
"pvaDynamicServerPackets": {{FastL4_pvaDynamiClientPackets}}

Click Save.
In the right pane, the new template is created and displays.
In the left pane, navigate to: Applications > My Application Services.
Click Add Application.
Type an Application Service Name. Example: app_epva
For What kind of Application Service are you creating?, select From Template, and then click Select Template.
From the Application Template list, select a template. Example: clone_http_evpa
Click Start Creating.
No Virtual Servers Configured displays.
Click Start Creating.
Click Pools, and then type a Pool Name. Example: pool1
Click Virtual Servers, and then type a Virtual Server Name. Example: vs1.
From the Pool list, select a Pool. Example: pool1
Retain the default for Virtual Port: 80.
For Protocols & Profiles, click the icon next to SNAT MIRRORING.
Select Enable FastL4.
From the PVA acceleration list, select Assisted.
From the PVA Dynamic Server Packets list, select a number. Example: 3.
From the PVA Dyanmic Client Packets list, select a number. Click Save. Example: 4.
No Instance/Locations displays.
Click Start Adding.
Click the Select All check box. Retain the default: big-ip-next.
Click + Add to List.
For Virtual Address, type a valid IP address.
From the Members list, select + Pool Members.
Click + Add Row.
Type a Name and IP address, and click Save.
Click Actions > Validate. Validated displays with a check icon.
Click View Results.

Verify:

Example

"l4Profile_vs1" {
  "class": "L4_Profile", 
...   
"pvaAccelerationMode": "assisted",
"pvaDynamicClientPackets": 3,
"pvaDynamicServerPackets": 4,

Click Exit.
Click Deploy Application Service, and then click Yes, Deploy.
To confirm a successful deployment, click the name of an application service (Example: app_epva), and then click Action > Deploy/Underploy.

Verify:
The Instance/Location has a check icon before it; the Virtual Server, Virtual Address, and Pool display. Example: vs1, <IP address>, and pool1.

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