Lab 1: Configure BIG-IP Trunks, VLAN's, and Self-IP's

In Lab 1, we will setup basic network-level settings on our BIG-IPs. We will define Trunks, VLANs, and local Self IPs. These configuration items will assist in establishing connectivity to/from our BIG-IPs, and between BIG-IPs.

Lab Tasks:

• Task 1: Create BIG-IP Trunks

• Task 2: Create BIG-IP VLANs

• Task 3: Create BIG-IP Self IPs

Task 1: Create BIG-IP Trunks

In Task 1, we will define BIG-IP trunks. These trunks will be used in subsequent labs, becoming part of our HA Group configuration.

1. On both BIG-IP devices, configure trunks under the Network configuration section.

   Use the following table to create & define your three Trunks:

   Trunk Name	Interface Member	Description / Function
   int_trunk	1.1	Trunk to simulate a connection to internal infrastructure
   ext_trunk	1.2	Trunk to simulate a connection to external infrastructure
   HA_trunk	1.3	Trunk to simulate a high-availability network connection

2. Navigate to: Network > Trunks > Trunk List, then click the "+" button to create a new Trunk:

   

3. Provide a Trunk Name, and move the respective Available interface to the "Members" section.

4. Click Repeat to define your next trunk.

   When you define the last trunk, you may select the "Finished" button

   • Internal Trunk:

   

   • External Trunk:

   

   • HA Trunk:

   

   • View of Trunk List after creating all three trunks:

   

Task 2: Create BIG-IP VLANs

In Task 2, we will define our VLANs on our BIG-IPs. Our VLANs will be associated with their respective trunk from Task 1.

1. On both BIG-IP devices, configure VLANs under the Network configuration section.

   Use the following table to create & define your three VLANs:

   Name	Tag	Interface	Tagging
   int_vlan_10	10	int_trunk	Untagged
   ext_vlan_20	20	ext_trunk	Untagged
   HA_vlan_30	30	HA_trunk	Untagged

2. Navigate to: Network > VLANs > VLAN List, then click the "+" button to create a new VLAN:

   

3. Create the respective VLANs per the table above.

   • Internal VLAN:

   

   • External VLAN:

   

   • HA VLAN:

   

   • View of the VLAN List after all VLANs have been defined, and associated to their respective Trunk:

   

Task 3: Create BIG-IP Self IPs

In Task 3, we will configure our Local Self IPs of each BIG-IP. These IPs will be our L3 connectivity to our BIG-IP networks.

1. On both BIG-IP devices, configure their respective Self IPs under the Network configuration section.

   Use the following table to create & define your three Self IPs:

   BIG-IP	Name	IP address	Netmask	VLAN	Port Lockdown
   bigipA	self_vlan10	10.1.10.241	255.255.255.0	int_vlan_10	Allow None (default)
   bigipA	self_vlan20	10.1.20.241	255.255.255.0	ext_vlan_20	Allow None (default)
   bigipA	self_vlan30	10.1.30.241	255.255.255.0	HA_vlan_30	Allow None (default)
   bigipB	self_vlan10	10.1.10.242	255.255.255.0	int_vlan_10	Allow None (default)
   bigipB	self_vlan20	10.1.20.242	255.255.255.0	ext_vlan_20	Allow None (default)
   bigipB	self_vlan30	10.1.30.242	255.255.255.0	HA_vlan_30	Allow None (default)

2. Navigate to: Network > Self IPs, then click the "+" button to create a new Self IP:

   

3. Create the respective Self IPs per the table above.

   • Self IP, VLAN 10:

   

   • Self IP, VLAN 20:

   

   • Self IP, HA VLAN 30:

   

   • Example view of the Self IP List from BIG-IP-A after all Self IPs have been defined:

   

Lab Summary

In this lab, you setup basic BIG-IP network-level configuration settings. After completion of these lab tasks, you should have network connectivity between the devices on all VLANs. These configuration objects will assist with the subsequent labs.

This completes Lab 1.