How to: Create a BIG-IP Next instance in a VMware vSphere environment from Central Manager¶
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 Properties you are adding. Type a Management IP Address, Management Network Prefix Width, and Gateway IP Address.
Complete the vSphere network details using the information in your vSphere Client.
In vSphere Management Network field, specify the details.
In vSphere Network 1.1, maximum of 5 Network Interface Cards (NICs) can be supported including the management network.
Additionally, vSphere Network 1.2, vSphere Network 1.3 and vSphere Network 1.4 can also be configured.
Note: Note: For a standalone configuration, at least 2 NICs are required. If you are planning an HA configuration, at least 4 NICs are required.
Click Create to specify a DNS server address.
Click Create to specify an NTP Server address and click Next.
Click Networking, first configure the L1 Networks then VLANs and at last IP Addresses.
Click L1 Networks
The L1 Networks are automatically set based on Network adapter configurations in vSphere Network Adapter Settings. Four L1 Networks can be set up, and the Interface Name is auto-assigned.
Click VLANs, to configure VLANs then click + Create.
In the Name field, type a name for the VLAN.
In the Tag, type a number from (0 to 4096) or leave it blank for automatic assignment.
Choose the L1 Network from the dropdown.
Click IP Addresses to configure IP Addresses then click + Create
In Address, specify the IP address.
In Device Name, no need to specify the name.
Choose the VLAN from the dropdown.
Click Next.
In Troubleshooting, provide the username and password for administrator for this BIG-IP Next instance and confirm the password.
Choose the wait time for the new BIG-IP instance to be ready from the dropdown (optional). 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.