Administering BIG-IP Training – F5-CA, BIG-IP Certification Preparation (F5CAB1–5)
Over two days you learn to handle the day-to-day running of a BIG-IP system: initial setup, local traffic objects, high availability, backups and diagnostics. The content follows F5's Administering BIG-IP outline and prepares you for the five exams F5CAB1 to F5CAB5, which lead to the F5-CA, BIG-IP certification now that exam 101 was retired on 30 April 2025. Most of the time is spent in guided labs, so you leave able to operate a production pair with confidence rather than just recite definitions.
Bring up a standalone BIG-IP: management interface, licensing, module provisioning
Configure core networking (VLANs, NTP, DNS) and back up or restore the configuration
Build virtual servers, pools, monitors, profiles and persistence
Handle SNATs, SSL offload and pool member status
Set up a high-availability pair with device trust and a sync-failover group
Troubleshoot with tcpdump, logs and QKView, and manage roles and partitions
Program
System setup
Initial configuration, licensing and provisioning
Device certificates, VLANs, NTP and DNS
Configuration archives: backup and restore
Local traffic basics
Traffic processing objects and load balancing
Statistics, node and pool member status
NATs, SNATs and health monitors
Profiles, SSL offload and re-encryption, source address and cookie persistence
Command line and high availability
Using TMSH and managing configuration files
Device trust and sync-failover groups
Hardening: SSH and HTTPS access, password policy
Administration and troubleshooting
Capturing and reading tcpdump output
Local, high-speed and audit logging; QKView
User roles and administrative partitions
Upgrades, including within a device group
Prerequisites
Networking basics: OSI model, TCP/IP, addressing and subnetting, routing and switching
No BIG-IP experience required; newcomers are advised to complete the free Getting Started with BIG-IP and Getting Started with LTM e-learning
Target audience
Network administrators and operators running BIG-IP day to day
Engineers taking over an existing F5 estate
Candidates for the F5-CA, BIG-IP certification
The exam
The F5-CA, BIG-IP certification now rests on five 30-minute multiple-choice exams: install, initial configuration and upgrade (F5CAB1); data plane concepts (F5CAB2); data plane configuration (F5CAB3); control plane administration (F5CAB4); support and troubleshooting (F5CAB5). You take them in any order, either online with a Certiverse proctor (US$50 each) or at a Pearson VUE center (US$65). The passing score is 245. The credential is valid for two years and renews through exam F5CABR (50 questions, 60 minutes, passing score 245). Exams are not taken during the course.
Preparation tips
Tackle the exams one at a time: their short format lets you revise one domain at a time
Repeat the HA and backup labs until you can do them without notes
Practice TMSH: several objectives focus on the command line
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I still take the F5 101 exam?
No. It was retired on 30 April 2025 and replaced by exams F5CAB1 to F5CAB5.
What about exam 201?
F5 keeps it only for candidates who were already eligible before the change. New candidates go through the five F5CAB exams.
How much does F5-CA cost?
Each exam costs US$50 online or US$65 at Pearson VUE, so US$250 to US$325 for all five.
Do I need all five exams to get certified?
Yes, the certification is awarded once all five exams are passed.
Is the course available in French?
Yes, we deliver it in French or English, live online, in Casablanca or on-site at your organization.