Manual Chapter : Add and activate a standalone registration key on a BIG-IQ not connected to the internet \(manual method\)

Applies To:

  • BIG-IQ Centralized Management

    7.0.0

Updated Date: 07/07/2026

Add and activate a standalone registration key on a BIG-IQ not connected to the internet \(manual method\)

You must have your base registration key before you can activate it. You get this from F5 Networks, typically in the form of an email. If you do not have a base registration key, contact the F5 Networks sales group (f5.com).

You add and activate standalone registration keys to a registration key pool to make them available for assignment to BIG-IP VE devices from BIG-IQ. This gives you the flexibility to assign and revoke licenses as needed for your managed devices, without requiring you to contact F5. If your BIG-IQ system is not connected to the public internet, you can activate the registration key using this manual procedure, rather than automatically contacting the F5 license server.

Note: You cannot re-activate (or import) registration keys from currently-active BIG-IP VE licenses. For devices in your network that are already licensed, contact F5 Support for assistance in transferring them to BIG-IQ for license management. Create a pool for each type of service the registration key is licensed for. It’s best not to create a registration pool that contains keys for licenses with different or mixed services.

  1. On the left, click LICENSE MANAGEMENT > Licenses.

  2. Click the Add RegKey Pool button.

  3. In the Registration Key Pool Name box, type a name for this pool.

  4. Click the AddRegKey button.

  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the registration key, and into the Add-on Keys field, type or paste an associated add-on keys.

  6. For the Activation Method setting, select Manual.

  7. Click the Generate Dossier button.

    The screen refreshes to display the dossier.

  8. Select and copy the dossier.

  9. Click the Access F5 manual activation web portal link.

    The F5 Product Licensing site opens.

  10. Paste the dossier into the Enter Your Dossier box and click the Next button.

  11. Click the Activate License link.

  12. Review the EULA, and if you agree with the terms, click the Accept button at the bottom of the screen.

  13. Select the license and copy and paste it into the License Text box.

  14. Click the Activate button at the bottom of the screen.

If a license or offering fails to activate, the license displays with a yellow triangle next to it in the list. You’ll need to reactivate that license and its offerings. For individual offerings, you can add an optional description for identification after activation.