Manual Chapter :
Use BIG-IQ as a License Manager for BIG-IP Subscription and
Enterprise License Agreement Programs
Applies To:
Show Versions
BIG-IQ Centralized Management
- 8.3.0, 8.2.0, 8.1.0, 8.0.0
Use BIG-IQ as a License Manager for BIG-IP Subscription and
Enterprise License Agreement Programs
Overview: Using BIG-IQ as a license manager
You can deploy BIG-IQ solely to manage licenses
for BIG-IP devices. When you use BIG-IQ in this way you can assign, revoke, or change
BIG-IP license subscriptions option as well as create BIG-IP license usage reports to
submit to F5 for billing purposes.
What platforms does BIG-IQ license manager run on?
BIG-IQ Virtual Edition (VE) is a version of the BIG-IQ system that runs
as a virtual machine in specifically-supported hypervisors. BIG-IQ VE emulates a
hardware-based BIG-IQ system running a VE-compatible version of BIG-IQ software.
To manage your BIG-IP devices using BIG-IQ Centralized Management, you
deploy a BIG-IQ system and then configure it to meet your business needs.
To deploy a BIG-IQ system, you need to:
- Prepare your network environment and architecture (refer toPlanning a BIG-IQ Centralized Management DeploymentinPlanning a BIG-IQ Centralized Management Deploymentonsupport.f5.comfor details).
- Install and configure the BIG-IQ VE platform you plan to use to run the BIG-IQ system. The platform can either be a physical device or a virtual device. To use a physical device, you need a BIG-IQ 7000 series device. To use a virtual device, the solution you choose depends on the environment you choose. Use the platform-specific guide appropriate to complete the BIG-IQ VE installation. All of these guides are posted onsupport.f5.com.If you choose this platform:Refer to this guide for installation details:BIG-IQ 7000 SeriesPlatform Guide: BIG-IQ 7000 SeriesAmazon Web ServicesF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Amazon Web Services: SetupCitrix XenServer:F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Citrix XenServer: SetupKVMF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Linux KVM: SetupMicrosoft AzureF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Microsoft Azure: SetupMicrosoft Hyper-VF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Microsoft Hyper-V: SetupVMware ESXiF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and VMware ESXi: SetupXen ProjectF5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management 6.x and Linux Xen Project: SetupHypervisor guest definition requirements vary depending on the platform you choose. These requirements are detailed in the setup guide for each platform.
- Deploy and configure the number of BIG-IQ systems dictated by whether your architecture requires HA or multiple data centers.
- License and configure the BIG-IQ system.
How do I start using BIG-IQ as a license manager?
After you download the software image from the F5 Downloads site and
start BIG-IQ in your virtual environment, you can license the system using the base
registration key provided by F5. The
base registration
key
is a character string the F5 license server uses to provide BIG-IQ a license
to access the licensing features for your subscription or ELA program. Setup BIG-IQ as a licensing manager
Follow these steps to set up BIG-IQ as a licensing manager for unmanaged BIG-IP devices.
- Use a browser to log in to BIG-IQ by typinghttps://, where<management_IP_address><management_IP_address>is the address you specified for device management.The first time you log in to the BIG-IQ, you useadminfor theUsernameandPassword; but then you must change the admin password.
- Change the default admin password.
- ForCurrent Password, typeadmin.
- Type a new password in theNew PasswordandRe-type New Passwordfields.
- ClickSave. BIG-IQ changes the admin password and then displays the initial log in page.
- Login to the BIG-IQ user interface using your new password.
When you change the admin password as part of an initial login, BIG-IQ also resets the root password to match it. During initial setup, you can change them both again. - SelectSkip Licenseand click theNextbutton.
- Type aPassphrasethat satisfies the requirements specified on screen, and then type the same phrase forConfirm Passphrase, and then click theNextbutton.BIG-IQ uses the passphrase to generate a master key, which BIG-IQ uses to communicate with other BIG-IQ systems in your configuration.
- It's important to keep track of the passphrase for the master key, because you cannot recover it if you lose it. You can change the master key at any time only if this BIG-IQ is not part of a BIG-IQ high availability or DCD configuration from the screen.
- You must have the passphrase used to generate the master key before you can change the master key.
- Finally, when you backup and restore a BIG-IQ, the master key is backed up with the rest of the data, and you cannot restore that data onto a BIG-IQ that has a different master key, so without that key you will be unable to have this BIG-IQ and it's data in an HA or DCD configuration.
If you are setting up a Microsoft Azure VE, and you type an entry in any of the fields, you will not be able to continue successfully. The only way to proceed is to leave all of the fields empty and click theNextbutton at the bottom of the screen. This allows the system to use the first-time access credentials you specified previously. - For System Personality, selectBIG-IQ License Managerand click theNextbutton.
- After you review the details, clickLaunchand then clickRestartto confirm.
You can now start managing licenses for BIG-IP devices.
