How to: Back up managed BIG-IP Next instances to BIG-IP Next Central Manager’s local drive instantly or on a schedule

Overview

You should create a backup of a BIG-IP Next instance from BIG-IP Next Central Manager for a number of reasons including:

  • Before upgrading a BIG-IP Next instance.

  • Before performing a factory reset on a BIG-IP Next instance.

  • For data loss prevention and security compliance.

You can create an instant backup or create a regularly scheduled backup. The backup task can take several minutes but will not impact active applications or network traffic.

Prerequisite

The BIG-IP Next instances you want to create a backup for must be in a healthy state.

Procedure

  1. Log in to BIG-IP Next Central Manager as admin, click the Workspace icon next to the F5 logo, and click Infrastructure.

  2. Select the checkbox next to the BIG-IP Next instances you want to back up.
    The BIG-IP Next instance must be in a healthy state for a successful backup creation.

  3. At the top of the screen, click Actions, and then click Back Up & Schedule.
    The Back Up Instances panel opens.

  4. For Encryption Password, type a password to encrypt this backup and confirm the password.

  5. To create an instant backup, click the Backup Now button and then the Yes, Backup button.

  6. To create a backup schedule, click the Next button.

  7. From the Frequency list, select the interval you want BIG-IP Next Central Manager to back up the selected BIG-IP Next instance(s).

  8. To change the name of this backup, overwrite the default name in the Name field.

  9. Click the date in the Date and Time field to open the calendar where you can select a specific date and time to start this schedule.

  10. Select End on to specify a date you want this backup schedule to stop, then click the Date and Time field to open the calendar where you can select a specific date and time to stop this schedule. The default end date is one year from the start date.
    If you select No end date BIG-IP Next Central Manager will continue you creating backups on the schedule you specified.

  11. Click the Next button.
    The schedule summary panel opens.

  12. Click the Save Schedule button to save the schedule you created for backups.

Result

By default, backups are stored locally on BIG-IP Next Central Manager or (if configured) on the locally-mounted external NFS storage.