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F5 Distributed Cloud (XC) Custom Routes: Capabilities, Limitations, and Key Design Considerations

Custom Routes in F5 Distributed Cloud (XC) promise flexibility and modular routing by decoupling application routing logic from the Load Balancer configuration. They appear, at first glance, to be a clean and reusable alternative to traditional Load Balancer routes, especially in multi-domain and multi-application environments. However, their behavior, architectural model, and TLS trust handling differ in important ways from standard XC routing. This article shares practical insights, real-world observations, and key design considerations to help engineers understand when, and how, to use Custom Routes safely and effectively.

Have you ever worked with Routes under an F5 Distributed Cloud (XC) Load Balancer? If yes, you probably already know how challenging they can become to maintain, especially when multiple domains are...
Published Dec 10, 2025
Version 1.0
application delivery
cloud
deployment
devops
Distributed Cloud
F5 Distributed Cloud
routes
security
xc
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I was first introduced to F5 technology in 2018. Coming from a primarily Layer 3 & 4 background, it was a mind blowing experience and love at first sight. Since then, I've been following the DevCentral community, initially just reading with a business account. Now, feeling more confident in my knowledge, I'm eager to contribute and help others solve challenges, just like others have helped me. Of course, the learning never stops, I'm still growing every day thanks to the insights shared by more experienced and smarter members of the community.
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