Options for adding and activating a license pool

Adding and activating a license pool is the first step to start managing it for your BIG-IP devices. You can activate a registration key in these ways:

Automatic

Use this procedure if BIG-IQ is connected to the public internet.

Manual

Use this procedure if BIG-IQ is not connected to the public internet. If you are manually activating a volume or utility license, you must activate each offering individually.

Add and activate a purchased, volume, or utility license pool on a BIG-IQ connected to the internet (automatic method)

To add and activate a license, you must have a base registration key. You get your key 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 can use this procedure to automatically contact the F5 license server for activation if F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management system is:

• Connected to the public internet.
• Able to access the activate.f5.com site.
• Existing firewalls allow port 443 to pass through.

You add and activate a purchased, volume, or utility pool license so you can make it available for assignment to BIG-IP VEs in your network. When you activate a volume or pool license using this method, BIG-IQ activates the associated offerings automatically.

1. At the top of the screen, click Configuration.

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

3. Click the Add License button.

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

5. For the Activation Method setting, select Automatic.

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

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

Activating licenses with offerings can take 5-10 minutes, depending on the number of offerings. A status bar displays on the licenses and license properties pages to show you the progress. When the activation status displays as Active, you can assign a license from the pool to a BIG-IP VE device.

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.

Add and activate a purchased license pool on a BIG-IQ not connected to the internet (manual method)

To add and activate a license, you must have a base registration key. You get your key 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).

Activate a pool license and make it available for assignment to BIG-IP VEs in your network. If BIG-IQ Centralized Management system is not connected to the public internet, you can use this procedure for activation, rather than automatically contacting the F5 license server.

1. At the top of the screen, click Configuration.

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

3. Click the Add License button.

4. In the License Name field, type a name to identify this license.

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

6. For Activation Method, select Manual and click the Get Dossier button.

   The BIG-IQ system refreshes and displays the dossier in the Device Dossier field.

7. Select and copy the text displayed in Device Dossier.

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

   The F5 Product Licensing site opens.

9. Click the Activate License link.

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

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

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

13. 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.

Add and activate a volume or utility license pool on a BIG-IQ not connected to the internet (manual method)

You must have a base registration key before you can add and activate a licensed pool. You get your 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 a pool license to make it available for assignment to BIG-IP devices in your network. If the BIG-IQ Centralized Management that you’re activating a license on 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.

Volume and utility pool licenses contain offerings. Offerings are specific to the services based on F5 Networks’ Good, Better, Best licensing structure. If you are manually contacting the F5 Networks license server to activate those registration keys, you must activate each associated offering individually.

1. At the top of the screen, click Configuration.

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

3. Click the Add License button.

4. In the License Name field, type a name to identify this license.

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

6. For Activation Method, select Manual and click the Get Dossier button.

   The BIG-IQ system refreshes and displays the dossier in the Device Dossier field.

7. Select and copy the text displayed in Device Dossier.

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

   The F5 Product Licensing site opens.

9. Click the Activate License link.

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

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

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

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

    The license displays in the list as Pending.

14. Click the name of the license, then the name of a pending offering.

15. Copy the contents of the Device Dossier box.

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

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

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

19. Repeat steps 14-18 for each pending offering.

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.