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.

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.

• Installation of BIG-IP Next on an rSeries platform is complete.

Procedure

Deploy an application service to support FastL4 ePVA settings.

1. Log in to BIG-IP Next Central Manager.

2. Click the Workspaces menu (upper-left corner).

3. In the left pane, navigate to: Applications > My Application Services.

4. Click Add Application.

5. Type an Application Service Name. Example: app_epva

6. For What kind of Application Service are you creating?, select Standard Template.

7. From the Application Template list, select a template. Example: clone_http_evpa

8. Click Start Creating.

9. Click Pools, and then type a Pool Name. Example: pool1

10. Click Virtual Servers, and then type a Virtual Server Name. Example: vs1.

11. From the Pool list, select a Pool. Example: pool1

12. Retain the default for Virtual Port: 80.

13. For Protocols & Profiles, click the icon next to SNAT MIRRORING.

14. Select Enable FastL4.

15. From the PVA acceleration list, select Assisted.

16. From the PVA Dynamic Server Packets list, select a number. Example: 3.

17. From the PVA Dyanmic Client Packets list, select a number. Click Save. Example: 4.
    No Instance/Locations displays.

18. Click Start Adding.

19. Click the Select All check box. Retain the default: big-ip-next.

20. Click + Add to List.

21. For Virtual Address, type a valid IP address.

22. From the Members list, select + Pool Members.

23. Click + Add Row.

24. Type a Name and IP address, and click Save.

25. Click Actions > Validate. Validated displays with a check icon.

26. Click View Results.

27. Verify:

    Example

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

28. Click Exit.

29. Click Deploy Application Service, and then click Yes, Deploy.

30. 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.