F5 Logo MyF5
Search
  1. MyF5 Home
  2. Knowledge Centers
  3. BIG-IP LTM
  4. BIG-IP Service Provider: Administration
  5. Load Balancing Diameter Application Requests
Manual Chapter : Load Balancing Diameter Application Requests

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IP LTM

  • 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0
Manual Chapter
Table of Contents | << Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

Overview: Diameter load balancing

An optional feature of the BIG-IP® system is its ability to load balance and persist requests that applications send to servers running Diameter services. The BIG-IP system can also monitor each server to ensure that the Diameter service remains up and running.

About Diameter profiles

The BIG-IP® system includes a profile type that you can use to manage Diameter traffic. The Diameter protocol is an enhanced version of the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) protocol.

When you configure a Diameter type of profile, the BIG-IP® system can send client-initiated Diameter messages to load balancing servers. The BIG-IP system can also ensure that those messages persist on the servers.

Task summary

Complete these tasks to configure Diameter load balancing on a BIG-IP® system.

Task list

Creating a custom Diameter profile

The first task in configuring Diameter load balancing on the BIG-IP® system is to create a custom Diameter profile.
  1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Profiles > Services > Diameter .
    The Diameter profile list screen opens.
  2. Click Create.
    The New Diameter profile screen opens.
  3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the profile.
  4. Click Finished.
The custom Diameter profile appears in the New Diameter Profile list.

Creating a custom Diameter monitor

After you create a Diameter profile, you can create a custom Diameter monitor. The purpose of the Diameter monitor is to monitor the health of all servers running the Diameter service.
  1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Monitors .
    The Monitor List screen opens.
  2. Click Create.
    The New Monitor screen opens.
  3. Type a name for the monitor in the Name field.
  4. From the Type list, select Diameter.
    The screen refreshes, and displays the configuration options for the Diameter monitor type.
  5. Configure additional settings based on your network requirements.
  6. Click Finished.

Creating a pool to manage Diameter traffic

The next step in a basic Diameter load balancing configuration is to define a load balancing pool that contains Diameter servers as its members.
  1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Pools .
    The Pool List screen opens.
  2. Click Create.
    The New Pool screen opens.
  3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the pool.
  4. Using the New Members setting, add each resource that you want to include in the pool:
    1. (Optional) In the Node Name field, type a name for the node portion of the pool member.
    2. In the Address field, type an IP address.
    3. In the Service Port field, type a port number, or select a service name from the list.
    4. (Optional) In the Priority field, type a priority number.
    5. Click Add.
  5. Click Finished.
The pool is configured to manage Diameter servers as pool members.

Creating a virtual server to manage Diameter traffic

The final task in configuring Diameter load balancing is to define a virtual server that references the custom Diameter profile and Diameter pool that you created in previous tasks.
Note: The virtual server to which you assign the Diameter profile must be a Standard type of virtual server.
  1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Virtual Servers .
    The Virtual Server List screen opens.
  2. Click the Create button.
    The New Virtual Server screen opens.
  3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the virtual server.
  4. For the Destination setting, in the Address field, type the IP address you want to use for the virtual server.
    The IP address you type must be available and not in the loopback network.
  5. From the Configuration list, select Advanced.
  6. From the Diameter Profile list, select a profile.
  7. In the Resources area of the screen, from the Default Pool list, select the relevant pool name.
  8. Click Finished.
The virtual server that references the custom Diameter profile and Diameter pool appears in the Virtual Server list.
Table of Contents | << Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>
Contact Support Contact Support

Have a Question?

Support and Sales >

About F5

Education

F5 Sites

Support Tasks




©2023 F5 Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.


Trademarks Policies Privacy California Privacy Do Not Sell My Personal Information