Minimum system requirements and supported browsers

The minimum system requirements for this release are:

• Intel^® Pentium^® III 550MHz processor
• 256MB disk drive or CompactFlash^® card (if you have the 3-DNS module, you need a 512MB disk drive or CompactFlash^® card)
• 256MB RAM

The supported browsers for the Configuration utility are:

• Microsoft^® Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0
• Netscape^® Navigator 4.7x

Note: The IM package for this release is quite large. If the disk drive in your platform does not meet the minimum requirement, you may not be able to successfully install this release.

Supported platforms

This release supports the following platforms:

• D25
• D30
• D35 (BIG-IP 520 and 540)
• D39 (BIG-IP 1000)
• D44 (BIG-IP 2400)
• D45 (BIG-IP 2000)
• D50 (BIG-IP 5000)
• D51 (BIG-IP 5100 and 5110)

If you are unsure which platform you have, look at the sticker on the back of the chassis to find the platform number.

Installing the software

Important:  Before you run the Configuration utility to configure the unit, you must complete the authorization and licensing process. If you do not obtain a license before you run the Configuration utility, the system may behave in an unexpected manner.

Important:  If you are upgrading a BIG-IP redundant system, you must upgrade both units. We do not support running different versions on a BIG-IP redundant system.

Important:  If you are upgrading an IP Application Switch or a BIG-IP system that uses a CompactFlash^® media drive, use the installation instructions here.

Note:  In rare instances, using a notebook computer to perform PXE installations of BIG-IP software causes corruption on the notebook computer hard drive. If you are using a notebook computer as a PXE server to install BIG-IP software, we recommend, as a precaution, that you first back up any important data stored on the notebook computer hard drive.

The following instructions explain how to install the BIG-IP software, version 4.5.14 onto existing systems running version 4.2 and later. The installation script saves your current configuration.

1. Go to the Downloads site and locate the BIG-IP 4.5.14 upgrade file, BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im.

    

2. Download the software image and the BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.md5 file.

   For information about how to download software, refer to SOL167: Downloading software from F5 Networks.

3. If you downloaded the image file to a directory other than /var/tmp, copy the image file to the /var/tmp/ directory on your BIG-IP system.

    

4. Check the md5 of the upgrade file by typing the following commands:

   md5 BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im
   cat BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.md5

   The two md5 values should be identical.

5. Install the IM by typing the following command:

   im BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im

   The BIG-IP system automatically reboots once it completes installation.

To upgrade an IP Application Switch or a BIG-IP system that uses a CompactFlash media drive, use the following process.

1. Create a memory file system by typing the following command:

   mount_mfs -s 200000 /mnt

2. Go to the Downloads site and locate the BIG-IP 4.5.14 upgrade file, BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im.

    

3. Download the software image and the BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.md5 file.

   For information about how to download software, refer to SOL167: Downloading software from F5 Networks.

4. If you downloaded the image file to a directory other than /mnt, copy the image file to the /mnt directory on your BIG-IP system.

    

5. Check the md5 of the upgrade file by typing the following command:

   md5 BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im
   cat BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.md5

   The two md5 values should be identical.
    
6. Install this upgrade by typing the following command:

   im /mnt/BIGIP_4.5.14_Upgrade.im

   The BIG-IP system automatically reboots once it completes installation.

Note:  This procedure provides over 90MB of temporary space on /mnt.  The partition and the im package file are deleted upon rebooting.

Activating the license

Once you install the upgrade and connect the unit to the network, you need a valid license certificate to activate the software. To obtain a license certificate, you need to provide two items to the license server: a registration key and a dossier.

The registration key is a 25-character string. You should have received the key by email. The registration key lets the license server know which F5 products you are entitled to license.

The dossier is obtained from the software, and is an encrypted list of key characteristics used to identify the platform.

You can obtain a license certificate using one of the following methods:

• Automatic license activation
  You perform automatic license activation from the command line or from the web-based Configuration utility of an upgraded unit. This method automatically retrieves and submits the dossier to the F5 license server, as well as installs the signed license certificate. In order for you to use this method, the unit must be installed on a network with Internet access.
   
• Manual license activation
  You perform manual license activation from the Configuration utility, which is the software user interface. With this method, you submit the dossier to, and retrieve the signed license file from, the F5 license server manually. In order for you to use this method, the administrative workstation must have Internet access.

Note:  You can open the Configuration utility using either Netscape Navigator version 4.7x, or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0, 5.5, or 6.0.

To automatically activate a license from the command line for first time installation

1. Type the user name root and the password default at the login prompt.
    
2. At the prompt, type license. The following prompts display:
   

   IP:
   Netmask:
   Default Route:
   Select interface to use to retrieve license:

   The unit uses this information to make an Internet connection to the license server.

3. After you type the Internet connection information, continue to the following prompt:
   

   The Registration Key should have been included with the software or given when the order was placed.
   Do you have your Registration Key? [Y/N]:

4. Type Y, and the following prompt displays:

   Registration Key:

5. Type the 25-character registration key you received. If you received more than one key, enter all of the keys, separating each with a space.
   The dossier is retrieved and sent to the F5 license server, and a signed license file is returned and installed. A message displays indicating the process was successful.
    
6. You are asked to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
   Note that the system is not fully functional until you accept this agreement.
    
7. You are prompted to reboot the system. Press Enter to reboot.
   The system is not fully functional until you reboot.
    

To automatically activate a license from the command line for upgrades

1. Type your user name and password at the logon prompt.
    
2. At the prompt, type setup.
    
3. Choose menu option L.
    
4. The following prompt displays:

   Number of keys: 1

5. If you have more than one registration key, enter the appropriate number.

   The following prompt displays:

   Registration Key:

6. Type the 25-character registration key you received. If you received more than one key, enter all of the keys, separating each with a space.
   The dossier is retrieved and sent to the F5 license server, and a signed license file is returned and installed. A message displays indicating the process was successful.
    
7. When you are finished with the licensing process, type the following command to restart the services on the system:

   bigstart restart

To manually activate a license using the Configuration utility

1. Open the Configuration utility according to the type of BIG-IP unit you are licensing:
   • If you are licensing a previously configured BIG-IP unit, open the Configuration utility using the configured address.
      
   • If you are licensing a new BIG-IP unit, from the administrative workstation, open the Configuration utility using one of the following addresses: https://192.168.1.245 or https://192.168.245.245. These are default addresses on the units local area network.
      
2. Type the user name and password, based on the type of BIG-IP unit you are licensing:
   • If you are licensing a previously configured BIG-IP unit, type your user name and password at the logon prompt.
      
   • If you are licensing a new BIG-IP system, type the user name root, and the password default at the logon prompt.
   
   The Configuration utility menu displays.
    
3. Click License Utility to open the License Administration screen.
    
4. In the Registration Key box, type the 25-character registration key that you received. If you have more than one key to install, click Enter More Keys to install multiple keys. Once you have entered all registration keys, click Manual Authorization.
    
5. At the Manual Authorization screen, retrieve the dossier using one of the following methods:
   
   
   • Copy the entire contents of the Product Dossier box.
      
   • Click Download Product Dossier, and save the dossier to the hard drive.
6. Click the link in the License Server box.
   The Activate F5 License screen opens in a new browser window.
    
7. From the Activate F5 License screen, submit the dossier using one of the following methods:
   
   
   • Paste the data you just copied into the Enter your dossier box, and click Activate.
      
   • At the Product Dossier box, click Browse to locate the dossier on the hard drive, and then click Activate.
   
   The screen returns a signed license file.
    
8. Retrieve the license file using one of the following methods:
   
   
   • Copy the entire contents of the signed license file.
      
   • Click Download license, and save the license file to the hard drive.
9. Return to the Manual Authorization screen, and click Continue.
    
10. At the Install License screen, submit the license file using one of the following methods:
    
    
    • Paste the data you copied into the License Server Output box, and click Install License.
       
    • At the License File box, click Browse to locate the license file on the hard drive, and then click Install License.
    
    The License Status screen displays status messages, and Process complete appears when the licensing activation is finished.
     
11. Click License Terms, review the EULA, and accept it. The system is not fully functional until you accept this agreement.
     
12. At the Reboot Prompt screen, select when you want to reboot the platform.
    License activation is complete only after rebooting.

To automatically activate a license using the Configuration utility

1. Open the Configuration utility according to the type of BIG-IP unit you are licensing:
   • If you are licensing a previously configured BIG-IP unit, open the Configuration utility using the configured address.
      
   • If you are licensing a new BIG-IP unit, from the administrative workstation, open the Configuration utility using one of the following addresses: https://192.168.1.245 or https://192.168.245.245. These are default addresses on the units local area network.
      
2. Type the name and password, based on what type of BIG-IP unit you are licensing:
   • If you are licensing a previously configured BIG-IP unit, type your user name and password at the logon prompt.
      
   • If you are licensing a new BIG-IP unit, type the user name root, and the password default at the logon prompt.
   
   The Configuration utility menu displays.
    
3. Click License Utility to open the License Administration screen.
    
4. In the Registration Key box, type the 25-character registration key that you received. If you have more than one key to install, click Enter More Keys to install multiple keys. Once you have entered all registration keys, click Automated Authorization.
   
   The License Status screen displays status messages, and Process complete appears when the licensing activation is finished.
    
5. Click License Terms, review the EULA, and accept it. The system is not fully functional until you accept this agreement.
    
6. At the Reboot Prompt screen, select when you want to reboot the platform.
   License activation is complete only after rebooting.

Changes to existing features

This release includes the following changes in product behavior.

Note:  If you encounter a solution that does not have an active link, it is likely that we have not yet had a chance to get the solution posted on AskF5, but please continue to check this table for new content or links.

New fixes and enhancements in this release

Note: Staring in version 4.5.13, we modified the format for displaying CRs for fixes and known issues. The CRs are now listed in a table format, with the corresponding solution listed next to the CR. Clicking the solution link directs you to the more detailed solution document that is posted on the AskF5 Technical Support Web Site. We continually update these solution documents on AskF5 as new details become available. If additional known issues are discovered after we release a version, we will update the known issues table with the new CR and solution numbers, with the goal of keeping you current on our known issues.

This release includes the following new fixes and enhancements.

Fixes and enhancements in prior releases

To view fixes and enhancements that were distributed in prior releases, see the previous release notes on AskF5.

Known issues

The following items are known issues in the current release.

Copyright © 2000-2006, F5 Networks, Inc., Seattle, Washington. All rights reserved.
F5, F5 Networks, the F5 logo, BIG-IP, 3-DNS, iControl, Internet Control Architecture, IP Application Switch, iRules, OneConnect, Packet Velocity, SYN Check, Control Your World, ZoneRunner, uRoam, FirePass, TrafficShield, WANJet, and WebAccelerator are registered trademarks or trademarks of F5 Networks, Inc., in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. F5 Networks' trademarks may not be used in connection with any product or service except as permitted in writing by F5.

This product is protected by U.S. Patents 6,374,300; 6,473,802; 6,970,933. Other patents pending.