How to get a F5 BIG-IP VE Developer Lab License

Jer,

I understand your frustration.

This should be as easy as putting 3 lab licenses in your cart at CDW and making the purchase. Then, CDW contacts F5. F5 fulfills the order by providing the license keys to CDW. CDW then delivers the keys to you. Not the best method, but relatively straight forward.

I haven't seen any "18" option. I would simply buy the 16 and go from there. The versioning shouldn't matter. It's a lab license and you then have access to a wide range of versions to work with (I recall seeing a range from 9-11 when I bought my lab licenses). Certain versions were not available, like the latest at the time, so it was a little frustrating, but several versions were available for use with the license.

Another route - although this may be a pain too - is to reach out to a vendor that supplies licenses to the U.S. Government. For example, my Lab Renewals are done through World Wide Technologies.

Best wishes,

John

(and, just after writing this, I see an e-mail that said you did just that.... good luck!)