How to: Create a BIG-IP Next instance in a VMware vSphere environment using a template¶
Overview¶
You can easily create a BIG-IP Next VE instance in a VMware vSphere environment from BIG-IP Next Central Manager using a VE template.
Prerequisites¶
Before you create an instance from BIG-IP Next Central Manager, you must have:
A configured VMware vSphere environment with valid access credentials.
A configured provider-supported BIG-IP Next virtual machine template. See Create BIG-IP Next Instance Template on VMware for more information.
An understanding of your provider’s terminology and available regions or zones (or location equivalents).
A hostname (fully qualified domain name) for the BIG-IP Next instance.
An active MyF5 account for licensing and provisioning this BIG-IP Next instance, or access to a JSON License Web Token (LWT).
Procedure¶
Log in to BIG-IP Next Central Manager as admin, click the Workspace icon next to the F5 icon, and click Infrastructure.
If you have not added any BIG-IP Next instances previously, click the + Start Adding Instances button.
Click the Create a New Instance button.
Review the requirements.Enter a hostname and an optional description to identify this instance.
From the Instance Template list, select the VE Standalone template.
Click the Start Creating button.
Click the Add button.
Enter a name to identify this VMware provider and its vCenter hostname, and then click the Connect button.
Enter the username and password for this provider and click the Submit button.
Click the Done button then click the Next button.
Specify the VMware vSphere properties.
Select the Onboarding template from the Vsphere Content Library list.
BIG-IP Next Central Manager loads the provider specific settings.Click the Next button.
From the Resource Pool list, select an option.
Select a Storage option.
Optionally you can change the defaults for Number of CPU Cores and Memory.
Click the Next button.
Enter the details for the BIG-IP Next instance you are adding.
Complete the vSphere network details using the information in your vSphere Client. Up to 5 NICs are supported.
Click Create to specify a DNS server address.
Click Create to specify an NTP Server address and click Next.
Specify the network settings and click the Next button.
Provide the username and password for administration for this BIG-IP Next instance, confirm the password, and click Next.
Review the summary of the configuration you created and if you’re ready to create this BIG-IP Next instance, click the Deploy button.
Deployment can take up to 15 minutes.
Result¶
You can now manage this BIG-IP Next instance from BIG-IP Next Central Manager.