The BIG-IP^® Edge Client^® provides a location-awareness feature. Using location awareness, the client connects automatically only when it is not on a specified network. The administrator specifies the networks that are considered in-network, by adding DNS suffixes to the connectivity profile. With a location-aware client enabled, a user with a corporate laptop can go from a corporate office, with a secured wireless or wired network connection, to an offsite location with a public wireless network connection, and maintain a seamless connection to allowed corporate resources.

BIG-IP^®Edge Client^® provides an automatic reconnection feature. This feature attempts to automatically reconnect the client system to corporate network resources whenever the client connection drops or ends prematurely.

1. On the Main tab, click Access > Connectivity / VPN > Connectivity > Profiles .
   A list of connectivity profiles displays.
2. Select the connectivity profile that you want to update and click Edit Profile.
   The Edit Connectivity Profile popup screen opens and displays General Settings.
3. From the left pane of the popup screen, select Win/Mac Edge Client.
   Edge Client settings for Mac and Windows-based systems display in the right pane.
4. Retain the default (selected) or clear the Save Servers Upon Exit check box.
   Specifies whether Edge Client maintains a list of recently used user-entered APM^® servers. Edge Client always lists the servers that are defined in the connectivity profile, and sorts them by most recent access, whether this option is selected or not.
5. To support automatic reconnection without the need to provide credentials again, allow password caching.
   1. Select the Allow Password Caching check box.
      This check box is cleared by default.
      The remaining settings on the screen become available.
   2. To require device authentication to unlock the saved password, select Require Device Authentication.
      This option links the option to use a saved password to a device authentication method. Supported device authentication methods include PIN, passphrase, and biometric (fingerprint) authentication on iOS and Android. Android devices also support pattern unlocking.
   3. From the Save Password Method list, select disk or memory.
      If you select disk, Edge Client caches the user's password (in encrypted form) securely on the disk where it is persisted even after the system is restarted or Edge Client is restarted.
      If you select memory,  Edge Client caches the user's password within the BIG-IP Edge Client application for automatic reconnection purposes.
      If you select memory, the Password Cache Expiration (minutes) field displays with a default value of 240.
   4. If the Password Cache Expiration (minutes) field displays, retain the default value or type the number of minutes to save the password in memory.
6. To enable automatic download and update of client packages, from the Component Update list, select yes (default).
   If you select yes, APM^® updates Edge Client software automatically on the client system when newer versions are available.
7. Specify the list of APM servers to provide when the client connects.
   The servers you add here display as connection options in the BIG-IP Edge Client.
   Note: Users can select from these servers or they can type a hostname.
   1. From the left pane of the popup screen, select Server List.
      A table displays in the right pane.
   2. Click Add.
      A table row becomes available for update.
   3. You must type a host name in the Host Name field.
      Typing an alias in the Alias field is optional.
   4. Click Update.
      The new row is added at the top of the table.
   5. Continue to add servers, and when you are done, click OK.
8. Specify DNS suffixes that are considered to be in the local network.
   Providing a list of DNS suffixes for the download package enables Edge Client to support the autoconnect option. With Auto-Connect selected, Edge Client uses the DNS suffixes to automatically connect when a client is not on the local network (not on the list) and automatically disconnect when the client is on the local network.
   1. From the left pane of the popup screen, select Location DNS List.
      Location DNS list information is displayed in the right pane.
   2. Click Add.
      An update row becomes available.
   3. Type a name and click Update.
      Type a DNS suffix that conforms to the rules specified for the local network.
      The new row displays at the top of the table.
   4. Continue to add DNS names and when you are done, click OK.
9. Click OK.
   The popup screen closes, and the Connectivity Profile List displays.

1. On the Main tab, click Access > Connectivity / VPN > Connectivity > Profiles .
   A list of connectivity profiles displays.
2. Select a connectivity profile.
3. Click the arrow on the Customize Package button and select Mac.
   The Customize Mac Client Package screen displays.
4. Retain the selection or clear the Auto launch BIG-IP Edge Client after User Log In check box.
5. Click Download.
   The customized package, BIGIPMacEdgeClient.zip, is downloaded to your client. It is available for you to distribute.

1. On the Main tab, click Access > Connectivity / VPN > Connectivity > Profiles .
   A list of connectivity profiles displays.
2. Select a connectivity profile.
3. Click the arrow on the Customize Package button and select Mac.
   The Customize Mac Client Package screen displays.
4. Click Download.
   The screen closes and the package, BIGIPMacEdgeClient.zip, downloads.

1. On the Main tab, click Access > Connectivity / VPN > Network Access (VPN) > Network Access Lists .
   The Network Access Lists screen opens.
2. In the Name column, click the name of the network access resource you want to edit.
3. To configure applications to start for clients that establish a Network Access connection with this resource, click Launch Applications on the menu bar.
4. Click Add to add an application list.
5. In the Application Path field, type open .
6. In the Parameters field, type a parameter.
   For example, type -a/Applications/ie.app http://www.f5.com.
7. From the Operating System list, select Mac.
8. Click Finished to add the configuration.

1. In the ~/Library/F5Networks. directory, open the f5networks.conf file.
2. Edit the settings to change the log level.
   For debugging purposes, set the values to 48.

User interface on a Mac

BIG-IP^® Edge Client^® for Mac user interface displays these connection options.

Auto-Connect

Starts a secure access connection as it is needed. This option uses the DNS suffix information defined in the connectivity profile to determine when the computer is on a defined local network. When the computer is not on a defined local network, the secure access connection starts. When the computer is on a local network, the client disconnects, but remains active in the system tray. This option does not display if DNS suffixes were not defined.

Connect

Starts and maintains a secure access connection at all times, regardless of the network location.

Disconnect

Stops an active secure access connection, and prevents the client from connecting again until a user clicks Connect or Auto-Connect.