change content type by irule

When creating variables that you want to persist across multiple events, you'll need to access them in the global namespace (with the "::" prefix).

Here's an example:

when HTTP_REQUEST {
  set this_variable_is_local 1
  set ::this_variable_is_global 1
}
when HTTP_RESPONSE {
   This will fail as this_variable_is_local isn't defined in this scope
  if { [info exists this_variable_is_local] } {
    if { $this_variable_is_local == 1 } {
    }
  }
   This should succeed.
  if { [info exists ::this_variable_is_global] } {
    if { $::this_variable_is_global == 1 } {
      log local0. "Found this_variable_is_global"
    }
  }
}

Note, You should always use the "info exists" command before you access a variable that you are unsure exists to avoid runtime errors.

-Joe

1) Are these truly global? IE: Can I access them from different VIPS/rules/etc? (vs. multiple iterations of the same irule)

 

2) Is there a way to release a declared variable?

 

3) I haven't make much use of variables to date. (Just simple strings and small integers) Where is the best place to find out more about variable types and ranges?

 

4) Also would the TCL docs be the best place to find out about variable operations?

 

 

Thanks,

 

Brian

I'll try to answer these one by one:

 

 

1) Are these truly global? IE: Can I access them from different VIPS/rules/etc? (vs. multiple iterations of the same irule)

 

 

I'm going to have to defer to unRuleY to answer this one. I know they are global within the given rule within a given Virtual Server's resource instance, but I am unsure as to the extent beyond that.

 

 

2) Is there a way to release a declared variable?

 

 

Use the TCL "unset" command to release and undefine a variable.

 

 

3) I haven't make much use of variables to date. (Just simple strings and small integers) Where is the best place to find out more about variable types and ranges?

 

 

The best place to look is the TCL Reference Manual on SourceForge

 

 

http://tmml.sourceforge.net/doc/tcl/

 

Click here

 

 

We have removed support for procedures and external IO calls but most of the other functions are available in our implementation.

 

 

4) Also would the TCL docs be the best place to find out about variable operations?

 

 

See 3. As for internal commands, you should see the BIG-IP Product Documentation on ask.f5.com and look in the iRules section.

 

 

-Joe

Yes, they are truly global.

I think the original problem was simply that your HTTP_REQUEST event is always resetting par back to 0.

 

I think you want to have an "else { set par 0 }" in your HTTP_REQUEST event.

 

 

I'm not sure why Joe thought you needed a global variable... ?