Create a custom workflow to create a simple Load Balancing configuration

You will learn how to create a custom Workflow to complete the following: - Create a Pool - Add members to the new Pool - Create a VIP - Enable SNAT the VIP

Process Tip

During the following workflow you may save and exit at some point . The Create Workflow in this exercise assumes you stay in the Edit mode for the entire process. In the event that you exit the edit mode it is a simple task to get back to it - Select the Workflow you wish to edit - Select the schema tab - Select the pencil icon - Expand the tabs as needed to return to your work

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Create a CustomWorkflows Folder

Note: This step has been completed. Sample workflows are in the folder

Right click on the admin@vro.f5demo.com container. - Choose Add Folder. - Enter CustomWorkflows in the Name field - click Ok.

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Create a Custom Workflow

Right click on the CustomWorkflows folder - Choose New Workflow - Enter CustomWF1 - Choose OK - Select Save

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Create Pool and add it to Custom Workflow

Select the Schema Tab Expand the All Workflows heading on the left and navigate to F5/Ltm/Pool

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Choose the Setup button in the upper right(This will bring up the Promote Workflow Input Parameters)

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Choose Skip in the Reset all binding to: section

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Choose Value for loadBalancingMode and enter round-robin (This will be the default load balancing algorithm used) Choose Value for partition and enter Common (This will force all objects created by CustomWF1 to be put in the Common partition)

Select Input for monitor, name and bigip (scroll down for the last 2) :

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Choose Promote > Save

Modify presentation layer of custom workflow

Choose the Green Run triangle to start your workflow

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You see the 3 parameters that we set to input appear as input parameters.

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Choose Cancel

Choose the General tab You see the loadBalancingmode and partition set to the values we defined define. (view the full screen)

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Choose the Presentation tab(Each variable is shown with 3 parameters (type, name, description):
  • Choose monitor and enter Monitor to be used by LTM Pool in the description.
  • Choose name and enter Name for LTM objects created by this WF for the description.
  • Choose bigip and enter BigIP to be configured in the description field.
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Reorder the variables so they appear in this order: bigip, name, and monitor(You can rearrange the variable order by dragging and dropping the variable names.)

Choose the Schema tab

Mouse over the Create Pool workflow on the Schema tab

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Choose the Pencil icon above the Create Pool workflow

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Choose the OUT tab

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Double Click the actionResult [out-parameter] under Source parameter

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Choose the Create parameter/attribute in workflow link Enter F5Pool in the Name field (This will create an F5Pool output variable that references the pool that has just been created)

Choose Ok > Close > Save

Choose the Green Run triangle
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The order and description of the input parameters has been updated.

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Choose Cancel

Add the created Pool Member workflow to the custom workflow

Expand the All Workflows heading on the left and navigate to F5/Ltm/Pool

Drag and drop the Create Pool Member workflow to the right of the Create Pool workflow

Choose Setup in the upper right
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Choose Skip in the Reset all binding to: section

Chose Input for address and **port**(This will add the address and port fields to the presentation layer)

Enter lamp11 as the value for node (..This is the pool member object you created as part of the Create Pool Member workflow earlier..)

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Choose Promote

Mouse over the Create Pool Member workflow

Choose the Pencil icon to edit
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Choose the IN tab

Double click the NULL Source parameter next to the bigip Local Parameter

Choose the bigip in-parameter

Choose Select

Repeat steps for the following parameters:
  • pool:F5Pool
  • partition:partition
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Choose Close > Save

Add the Create Virtual Server workflow to the custom workflow

** Be sure you are in the Schema tab **

Expand the All Workflows heading on the left and navigate to F5/Ltm/Virtual Server

Drag and drop the Create Vitual Server workflow to the right of Create Pool Member on the Schema tab

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Choose Setup in the upper right

Choose Skip in the Reset all binding to: section

Set destination to Input(This will add the destination variable to the presentation layer of the workflow)

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Mouse over the Create Virtual Server workflow

Choose the Pencil to edit

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Verify that you are on the IN tab

  • Double click the NULL Source parameter next to the bigip Local Parameter
  • Choose the bigip in-parameter
  • Choose Select
Repeat steps 9-11 for the following parameters:
  • name:name
  • partition:partition
  • pool:name
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Scroll down until you see ipProtocol

Click NULL next to ipProtocol

Choose the Create parameter/attribute in workflow link

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Verify ipProtocol in the Name field

Enter tcp as the Value

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Choose Ok

Choose the OUT tab

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Click the virtual Source Parameter Choose the Create parameter/attribute in workflow link

Enter F5Vip in the Name field (This will create an output variable called F5Vip that references the new F5 virtual)

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Choose Ok > Close > Save

Choose Validate (This will throw an error showing the the parameter virtual is never used. We will change this in step 20 when we changed the name to F5Vip)

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  • Choose Delete parameter under the Quick fix action for both results (we replaced virtual with F5Vip)
  • Choose Close > Save

Add the Set Virtual Server SNAT to the custom workflow

Expand the All Workflows heading on the left and navigate to F5/Ltm/Virtual Server

Drag and drop the Set Virtual Server SNAT workflow to the right of Create Virtual Server on the Schema tab

Choose Setup in the upper right

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  • Verify that bigip is set to input
  • Choose F5Vip in the virtual drop down and check Value
  • Set type to Value and enter automap
  • Set pool to Skip
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Mouse over the Set Virtual Server SNAT workflow and choose the Pencil to edit

On the IN tab, click the bigip parameter:

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Double click the NULL Source parameter next to the bigip Local Parameter

Choose the bigip in-parameter, then Select

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Select Close > Save

On the Presentation tab Set the following descriptions for the variables:

  • Address: IP Address for the pool member
  • Port: IP Port for the pool member
  • Destination: VIP IP address and port < ipaddress:port >

Choose Save and Close

Run the CustomWF1workflow

Right Click on the CustomWorkflows>**CustomWF1** workflow
  • Start Workflow.
  • Click the Not set link in the BIG-IP field. This will open the Inventory Browser dialog.
  • Select the F5 Networks > 10.128.1.245 inventory object.
  • Click Select.
  • Enter CustWF1-102 in the LTM object name field.
  • Enter http in the Monitor to be used by LTM Pool field
  • Enter 10.128.20.11 in the Address for the pool member field
  • Enter 80 for the Port for the pool member field
  • Enter 10.128.10.102:80 for the Destination ipaddress:port field
  • Click Submit.
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Verify your new virtual and pool on your BIG-IP GUI
  • https://10.128.1.245
  • Username: admin
  • Password: admin
  • Browse through the LTM components (Virtual Server, Pool, etc)

Verify your new virtual from the Client GUI

  • Select Administer From Pulldown
  • Note: A significant amount of data is pulled into the client. This is a scheduled activity at 5 minute intervals. Changes may not appear immediately.
  • Expand the LTM items (Pool, Virtual, Virtual Address)
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