Manual Chapter : Managing Rule Schedules

Applies To:

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BIG-IQ Centralized Management

  • 5.4.0
Manual Chapter

About rule schedules

By default, all rules run continuously. You can apply a rule schedule to a rule to make that rule active only when scheduled.

Use the Rule Schedules screen to view the defined rule schedules. Rule schedules are continuously active if created without any scheduling specifics (such as the hour that the rule schedule starts).

Create rule schedules

You create rule schedules so that you can control when firewall rules are active.
  1. Click Configuration > SECURITY > Network Security > Rule Schedules .
  2. Click Create.
    The New Rule Schedule screen opens.
  3. In the Name setting, type a unique name for the rule schedule.
  4. In the Description setting, type an optional description for the rule schedule.
  5. In the Partition setting, type a partition if needed. The Common partition is the default.
  6. In the Date Range setting, specify the date and time when the rule can be active.
    • Indefinite specifies that the rule schedule start immediately and run indefinitely. The rule schedule remains active until you change the date range or delete the rule schedule. This is the default.
    • Until specifies that the rule schedule start immediately and run until a specified end date. The rule schedule is immediately activated and not disabled until the end date and time is reached. Click in the field to choose an end date from a popup calendar. You can specify an end time in the same popup screen.
    • After specifies that the rule schedule start after the specified date and run indefinitely. The rule schedule is activated starting on the selected date and runs until you change the start date or delete the rule schedule. Click in the field to choose a start date from a popup calendar. You can specify a start time in the same popup window.
    • Between specifies that the rule schedule start on the specified date and run until the specified end date. Click in the fields to choose the start and end dates from a popup calendar. You can specify start and end times in the same popup window.
    Using the calendar settings to specify the start and end dates and times is the preferred method. However, if you do specify dates by typing, use the format: MMM DD, YYYY for the date.
  7. In the Time Range setting, specify the time, within the time defined by the Date Range, that the rule schedule can be active.
    • All Day specifies that the rule schedule runs all day. This is the default.
    • Between specifies that the rule schedule starts at the specified time and runs until the specified end time. Click in the fields to choose the start and end times.
  8. In the Day setting, specify the days the rule schedule is active. Select the check boxes for all days that apply.
    You must select at least one day per week.
  9. Save your work.
The rule schedule is defined and you can assign it to a rule in a management IP firewall context, firewall policy, or rule list.

Clone rule schedules

You can clone a rule schedule to create a copy of it, which you can then edit to address any special considerations.
  1. Click Configuration > SECURITY > Network Security > Rule Schedules .
    The Rule Schedules screen opens.
  2. Click the check box next to the rule schedule to clone and clickClone.
    The system makes a copy of that rule schedule with the same name, but with -CLONE appended to the name, and a blank Description field.
  3. Change the rule schedule as needed.
  4. Save your work.
The new rule schedule is now defined.

Delete rule schedules

You delete rule schedules that you no longer use to avoid confusion in the user interface.
  1. Click Configuration > SECURITY > Network Security > Rule Schedules .
    The Rule Schedules screen opens.
  2. Click the check box next to the rule schedule that you want to delete.
  3. Click Delete.
  4. In the confirmation dialog box that opens, click Delete to confirm the removal.
The rule schedule is removed from the list.