Last updated on: 2023-03-14 02:16:22.

VMware vSphere ESXi (vCenter API) setup¶

Currently, F5 supports BIG-IP 13.1.0.5 Virtual-Edition or BIG-IP 14.1.2.8-0.0.7 Virtual Edition, and BIG-IQ 6.0.1.0.0.813 on VMware vSphere ESXi (vCenter), version 6.5, using the following setup:

VMware Component Description

Network setup

VMware Component	Description
Network setup	You must create seven separate networks. You can create them however you want; using Distributed Switch, VLANs, and Distributed Port Group, or create a Standard Virtual Switch, and assign as many uplinks as you want. The only requirement is that you create seven, separated, uniquely named networks for the required pre-existing networks. Note If deploying the BIG-IQ blueprint, then you must NOT use 192.168.1.200 and 192.168.1.245 IP addresses on the same network the F5 VNF Manager is connected, until AFTER you deploy the BIG-IQ blueprint and the BIG-IQ HA pair is online. Once the BIG-IQ HA pair is online, those IP addresses become available.
Network Protocol Profile IPv4 Configuration	A network protocol profile contains a pool of IPv4 addresses for use by vApps. When you create a network protocol profile, you set up its IPv4 configuration. You must associate a network protocol profile for each port group. Note The VLAN IDs for the PDN, PGW, and MGMT port groups must use the same VLAN IDs as the corresponding physical networks.
Deploy images	You must deploy images from the Content Library in vSphere. Upload the following image files to your vSphere Content Library: BIG-IQ 6.0.1.0.0.813 OVA file BIG-IP 13.1.0.5 Virtual-Edition and later or BIG-IP 14.1.2.8-0.0.7 Virtual Edition and later ALL_1SLOT OVA file in the Virtual Editions folder. F5 VNF Manager OVA file on the F5 Downloads site. Product key provided in the email receipt. CentOS To upload images to your vSphere Content Library Do one of the following: If you can access the Internet from your vSphere Content Library, then use a URL to upload the .ova file; for example, from F5 downloads page. To upload an OVF or OVA template directly from your local machine, do the following: Download the .ova image to your local machine from F5 downloads page. Use tar to unpack your `.ova` file locally. `tar -xf <path/name_of_ova_file.ova>` Upload the `.ovf` template file and the `.vmdk` disk file to your Content Library. The import wizard will prompt you to upload the `.ovf` and `.vmdk` files only.

You must create seven separate networks. You can create them however you want; using Distributed Switch, VLANs, and Distributed Port Group, or create a Standard Virtual Switch, and assign as many uplinks as you want. The only requirement is that you create seven, separated, uniquely named networks for the required pre-existing networks.

Note

If deploying the BIG-IQ blueprint, then you must NOT use 192.168.1.200 and 192.168.1.245 IP addresses on the same network the F5 VNF Manager is connected, until AFTER you deploy the BIG-IQ blueprint and the BIG-IQ HA pair is online. Once the BIG-IQ HA pair is online, those IP addresses become available.

Network Protocol Profile IPv4 Configuration

A network protocol profile contains a pool of IPv4 addresses for use by vApps. When you create a network protocol profile, you set up its IPv4 configuration. You must associate a network protocol profile for each port group.

Note

The VLAN IDs for the PDN, PGW, and MGMT port groups must use the same VLAN IDs as the corresponding physical networks.

Deploy images

You must deploy images from the Content Library in vSphere. Upload the following image files to your vSphere Content Library:

BIG-IQ 6.0.1.0.0.813 OVA file
BIG-IP 13.1.0.5 Virtual-Edition and later or BIG-IP 14.1.2.8-0.0.7 Virtual Edition and later ALL_1SLOT OVA file in the Virtual Editions folder.
F5 VNF Manager OVA file on the F5 Downloads site. Product key provided in the email receipt.
CentOS

To upload images to your vSphere Content Library

Do one of the following:

If you can access the Internet from your vSphere Content Library, then use a URL to upload the .ova file; for example, from F5 downloads page.
To upload an OVF or OVA template directly from your local machine, do the following:
1. Download the .ova image to your local machine from F5 downloads page.
2. Use tar to unpack your .ova file locally.
  
  tar -xf <path/name_of_ova_file.ova>
3. Upload the .ovf template file and the .vmdk disk file to your Content Library. The import wizard will prompt you to upload the .ovf and .vmdk files only.

What’s Next?

Back to setup.

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