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  5. What is a BIG-IP Device Service Clustering DSC group and how do I start managing it from BIG-IQ
Manual Chapter : What is a BIG-IP Device Service Clustering DSC group and how do I start managing it from BIG-IQ

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BIG-IQ Centralized Management

  • 5.4.0
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Device Service Clustering, or DSC®, is a BIG-IP® TMOS® feature that lets you organize BIG-IP devices in groups to share configurations. These groups are called device service clusters (also DSC). With BIG-IQ®, you can easily manage devices configured in a DSC from one centralized location.

Before you can manage BIG-IP systems configured in a DSC, you must:

  • Add the DSC device members to the BIG-IP Devices inventory.
  • Add the DSC group to the BIG-IP Clusters inventory.

When a device service cluster is in the BIG-IP Cluster inventory, you can view its properties and the devices within those groups, and synchronize their configurations, all without having to log in to each device individually.

Note: For specific information about BIG-IP DSC groups, refer to the BIG-IP® Device Service Clustering: Administration guide.

Discover BIG-IP Device Service Cluster groups

You must add the BIG-IP® devices configured in a DSC® to the BIG-IQ® system's BIG-IP Device inventory before you can discover DSC groups.

All BIG-IP devices in a cluster must be running the same software version and the same settings for:

  • Pools
  • Traffic-groups
  • VLANs
  • Tunnels
  • Route domains

The BIG-IQ DSC Groups inventory screen shows you a centralized view specific to DSC clusters.

Note: The Cluster Display Name displays on this screen only for managed BIG-IP devices in a DSC.
Important: BIG-IQ supports only two BIG-IP system in a DSC.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Devices.
  2. On the left, click BIG-IP CLUSTERS > DSC groups .
  3. Click the Discover button.
  4. Select the devices in the Available list, and then click the right arrow to add them to the Selected list.
    This list is populated from the BIG-IP Device inventory list. If you can't see all of the available devices listed, left-click the right bottom corner of the list and use your cursor to expand the dialog box.
  5. Click the Discover button.
The DSC Groups list refreshes to display the discovered DSC group.

Viewing the BIG-IP Clusters inventory and the properties of a DSC cluster

You must add a BIG-IP® device configured in a DSC® to the BIG-IP Devices inventory list, and discover the cluster from the DSC Clusters inventory list before you can see the cluster listed on this screen.

From the DSC Groups inventory screen, you can see the following details about each existing DSC cluster, including:

  • synchronization status
  • name
  • cluster type
  • last refresh dates
  • devices in the DSC group
  1. At the top of the screen, click Devices.
  2. On the left, click BIG-IQ CLUSTERS > DSC Groups .
    The screen displays the list of DSC groups defined on this device.
To view the properties of a cluster, including the trust domain certificate associated with this DSC group, click the cluster's name.

Synchronizing configurations between BIG-IP devices in a DSC cluster

You must add a BIG-IP® device configured in a DSC® to the BIG-IP Devices inventory list and discover the DSC from the DSC Groups inventory list before you can synchronize BIG-IP devices configured in a DSC.

Synchronizing configuration between BIG-IP devices in a DSC cluster saves you time because you don't have to log on to each BIG-IP device in the cluster individually.

Important: Unmanaged BIG-IP devices in a DSC do not display the Sync button.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Devices.
  2. On the left, click BIG-IQ CLUSTERS > DSC Groups .
    The screen displays the list of DSC groups defined on this device.
  3. Click the name of the cluster you want to synchronize.
  4. Click the Refresh Status button to get the most current sync status for the devices in the DSC group.
  5. For the Sync Option setting, select one of the options:
    • Device to Group - Select this option to prompt the BIG-IP device to synchronize its configuration with other device(s) in the DSC group.
    • Group to Device - Select this option to prompt the DSC group to load its configuration onto the BIG-IP device.
  6. Click the Sync button.
  7. To close the screen, click the Close button.
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