irule or other - soap http-response solution??

Yes, create an iRule (You don't NEED an HTTP profile, but it does make it easier if the BigIP parses the responses and you use the [HTTP::xx] commands).

 

 

The iRule should log with HSL or SIDEBAND connections (I've recently been warned by F5 support about too much logging using the log command).

 

 

The health monitor should stay where it is until you find out if it needs changing to detect the outage separately.

 

 

H