Ratio and source_addr persistence

Have you tried configuring 'priority group activation' on the pool for which one member must handle all traffic until it fails?

 

 

This will allow you to force all connections to one member until the number of available members is less than n

 

 

See these:

 

https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/2000/400/sol2422.html?sr=457825

 

https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/0000/400/sol483.html?sr=457825

 

https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/2000/400/sol2423.html?sr=457826

 

 

Another option may be to use two pools, one with a member which must handle all traffic until it fails and another with those you would fail over to, you could then use an iRule to check the state of the first pool, if its unavailable send all requests to the second pool.

 

 

The second option requires that you be able to test the state of the first pool, I'm unsure how to do that using an iRule but am sure it can be done (I do it with iControl).

 

 

I'll have a look in to testing pool state and let you know if I find anything as it's something I anticipate doing soon for a new deployment.

 

 

Hope this helps, I'm a noob at this but perhaps it gets the thoughts going.

 

 

J