F5 Logo MyF5
Search
  1. MyF5 Home
  2. Knowledge Centers
  3. BIG-IP LTM
  4. BIG-IP Virtual Edition 13.1.0 and Xen Project: Setup
  5. Deploying BIG-IP Virtual Edition in Xen Project
Manual Chapter : Deploying BIG-IP Virtual Edition in Xen Project

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IP AAM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP APM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP Analytics

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP LTM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP AFM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP PEM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP DNS

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0

BIG-IP ASM

  • 13.1.1, 13.1.0
Manual Chapter
Table of Contents | << Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >>

Deploy BIG-IP VE on Xen Project

To deploy BIG-IP® VE in the open source Xen Project environment, you will create and execute a configuration file.
Important: Do not change the configuration (CPU, RAM, and network adapters) of the Xen Project guest environment with settings less powerful than those recommended and described here.
  1. In a browser, open the F5 Downloads page (https://downloads.f5.com) and log in.
  2. On the Downloads Overview page, select Find a Download.
  3. Under Product Line, select BIG-IP v13.x/Virtual Edition.
  4. Under Name, select Virtual-Edition.
  5. If the End User Software License is displayed, read it and then click I Accept.
  6. Download the BIG-IP VE file package ending with qcow2.zip.
  7. Extract the file from the Zip archive and save it where your qcow2 files reside on the Xen Project server.
  8. Use VNC to access the Xen Project server, and then convert the qcow2 image to the raw format necessary for Xen Project. You can use the following syntax to convert the image.
    # qemu-img convert <qcow_file_name>.qcow2 <raw_file_name>.raw
  9. Generate a MAC address for the network interface card associated with the management interface.
    Important: Be sure that the MAC address you create starts with the prefix 00:16:3e:.
    You can use a tool such as MAC Address Generator (http://www.miniwebtool.com/mac-address-generator/) to create this address.
  10. Use an editor to create a definition file that specifies the required parameters for your VM.
    Use the following example to create a configuration file with the parameters and settings you need.
    # vi /etc/xen/<config_file_name> 
                        name = <config_file_name>
                    maxmem = 4096
                    memory = 4096
                    vcpus = 2
                    builder = "hvm"
                    boot = "c"
                    pae = 1
                    acpi = 1
                    apic = 1
                    hpet = 1
                    localtime = 0
                    on_poweroff = "destroy"
                    on_reboot = "restart"
                    on_crash = "restart"
                    sdl = 0
                    vnc = 1
                    vncunused = 1
                    keymap = "en-us"
                    disk = [ "file:/mnt/xen-bender/bigip/<raw_file_name.raw>,hda,w" ]
                    vif = [ "mac=00:16:<mgmt_interface_mac>,bridge=mgmtbr,script=vif-bridge,type=vif",
                    "mac=00:16:3e:<external_interface_mac>,bridge=ext_bridge,script=vif-bridge,type=vif",
                    "mac=00:16:3e:<internal_interface_mac>,bridge=int_bridge,script=vif-bridge,type=vif",]
                    parallel = "none"
                    serial = "pty"
                    #pci = [ '05:10.0', '05:10.1' ]
    Important: The last line of the example shows an optional entry, used for SR-IOV, with the IDs of the PCI external and internal network interface card (NIC). If you use this entry, omit the external and internal bridges specified in the vif section.
    Once you have tested and saved your configuration file, you are ready to create the BIG-IP VE.
  11. Run the configuration file using an open source tool such as xm.
    xm create /etc/xen/<config_file_name>
    If the startup was successful, the console will display text such as: Started domain <config_file_name>(id=444).
  12. Allow sufficient time for the boot-up process in order to connect to the BIG-IP VE console.
    # xm console <config_file_name>

Use BIG-IP Configuration utility tool to set management IP address

If your network has DHCP, an IP address is automatically assigned to BIG-IP® VE during deployment. You can use this address to access the BIG-IP VE Configuration utility or tmsh command-line utility.

If no IP address was assigned, you can assign one by using the BIG-IP Config utility tool.

  1. Connect to the virtual machine by using the hypervisor's console.
  2. At the login prompt, type root.
  3. At the password prompt, type default.
  4. Type config and press Enter.
    The F5 Management Port Setup screen opens.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Select No and follow the instructions for manually assigning an IP address and netmask for the management port.
You can use a hypervisor generic statement, such as tmsh show sys management-ip to confirm that the management IP address was set properly.
You can now log into the BIG-IP VE Config utility, and license and provision BIG-IP VE.
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