F5 BIG-IP Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Expert

Operate F5 BIG-IP as a governed automation platform. This expert lab moves beyond object configuration to the production operating model around it: safe software change, API-led orchestration, Git-backed intent, approved repair, event-driven response, and durable evidence.

What you will do

* Perform a standby-first rolling software lifecycle change across a synchronized HA pair.

* Automate BIG-IP through Ansible, AAP, APIs, and source-controlled intent.

* Validate HA, application delivery, DNS/GTM, WAF, AFM, and event-driven workflows.

* Capture evidence and recover safely when a change or configuration drifts.

How the lab works

Each phase builds on the verified state of the prior phase. You work from the CLI and from AAP, validate the traffic and HA outcome, and keep the resulting automation ready for review and repeatable execution.

By the end of this lab, you will be able to:

* Build and verify a resilient BIG-IP HA pair with deterministic peer references.

* Execute a controlled standby-first upgrade across both BIG-IP devices and validate the post-change sync state.

* Use Ansible and AAP workflows to deploy, test, and repair BIG-IP configuration.

* Operate LTM application delivery, DNS/GTM, WAF, and AFM policies as connected automation layers.

* Use event-driven automation and Git-backed content to detect and respond to operational changes.

* Produce the validation evidence needed to hand the environment to an operations team.

Recommended background

Complete the Introduction and Advanced labs first, or arrive comfortable with BIG-IP fundamentals, Ansible playbooks, and AAP job execution.

Lab environment

* Control VM: Ansible workstation, lab gateway, Docker-hosted pool members, and Git mirror.

* Ansible Automation Platform Controller: job templates, workflows, credentials, and governed execution.

* Automation Hub and Event-Driven Ansible services.

* BIG-IP pair: bigip-31 and bigip-32, configured as an HA pair with a dedicated HA sync network.

Network segments

* Management: 192.168.2.0/24

* External: 10.10.10.0/24

* Pool Members: 10.20.20.0/24

* HA Sync: 10.30.30.0/24

* WAN / Jumpbox: 10.236.72.0/21

Software and services

F5 BIG-IP LTM, DNS/GTM, Advanced WAF, AFM, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Event-Driven Ansible, Automation Hub, Docker pool members, and Git-backed Ansible content.