How to get a F5 BIG-IP VE Developer Lab License
(applies to BIG-IP TMOS Edition)
To assist DevOps teams improve their development for the BIG-IP platform, F5 offers a low cost
developer lab license. This license can be purchased from your authorized F5 vendor. If you do not have an F5 vendor, you can purchase a lab license online:
Once completed, the order is sent to F5 for fulfillment and your license will be delivered shortly after via e-mail. F5 is investigating ways to improve this process.
To download the BIG-IP Virtual Edition, please log into downloads.f5.com (separate login from DevCentral), and navigate to your appropriate virtual edition, example:
- For VMware Fusion or Workstation or ESX/i: BIGIP-16.1.2-0.0.18.ALL-vmware.ova
- For Microsoft HyperV: BIGIP-16.1.2-0.0.18.ALL.vhd.zip
- KVM RHEL/CentoOS: BIGIP-16.1.2-0.0.18.ALL.qcow2.zip
Note: There are also 1 Slot versions of the above images where a 2nd boot partition is not needed for in-place upgrades. These images include _1SLOT- to the image name instead of ALL.
The below guides will help get you started with F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition to develop for VMWare Fusion, AWS, Azure, VMware, or Microsoft Hyper-V. These guides follow standard practices for installing in production environments and performance recommendations change based on lower use/non-critical needs fo Dev/Lab environments. Similar to driving a tank, use your best judgement.
- Deploying F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition on VMware Fusion
- Deploying F5 BIG-IP in Microsoft Azure for Developers
- Deploying F5 BIG-IP in AWS for Developers
- Deploying F5 BIG-IP in Windows Server Hyper-V for Developers
- Deploying F5 BIG-IP in VMware vCloud Director and ESX for Developers
- jay_41195
Nimbostratus
I am still not able to buy Lab edition, why is it this difficult? Why create a product for the purpose of LAB with a cost but not have it available, I cant find any Australian re-sellers that will sell it.
- Torinketo_32840
Nimbostratus
Purchasing a license through CDW was a nightmare. Please consider a better alternative, this doesn't make sense.
- Chase_Abbott
Employee
@Torinketo;
I agree with you 100%. DevCentral is working on raising this issue through our management and I forwarded this on to my superiors for example.
- MichealRP_61305
Nimbostratus
I was looking to obtain a lab license to validate software updates and such, but from what I can tell, if I were to purchase this, it would be locked into a specific version. To me, this defeats the purpose of having a lab to begin with. If I'm mistaken, I apologize, but from comments such as "currently, I can not reuse the license on another ova version" and "Talking to F5 support while they could reactivate it for 12.0, they couldn't for 12.1." I'm hesitant to start the process of getting one just to find out that it's locked to a specific version once purchased.
- Chase_Abbott
Employee
@MichealRP;
A lab license would not be useful for you in this case. They are sold at current versions so if you were to test say an v11.6 to v13 upgrade, the lab license wouldn't be able to be downgraded.
If I was doing the upgrade test, I would use the new VE production license in a test environment, run the upgrade. Once complete I would call support to release the license from that activated VE serial number so I can perform the upgrade in production. I've never heard of anyone having issues releasing the license from the activated serial and the call took about 5 to 10 minutes in my prior experiences.
The above experience you're referencing could have been lag between the internal license where support release the license but the public validation tool wasn't synced up yet? Not sure, but I do know that you absolutely you can reuse the license on another VE once it's released from the previous instances SN in our license database. It's supported and a common practice for test environments.
As an FYI, not sure how BIG-IQ License Manager (free) would ease this up, but I will write up an article on that feature set soon (using BIG-IQ as a license manager for lab systems) and maybe that would help you?
The link to the "CDW BIG-IP Virtual Edition Lab License" takes you to a SKU that was discontinued on February 08, 2018. The new version available for purchase would be https://www.cdw.com/product/BIG-IP-Virtual-Edition-Lab-License-v.-16-license-10-Mbps/4699677?enkwrd=BIG-IP+Virtual+Edition+Lab+License+-+license
- Chase_Abbott
Employee
Thanks Troy! I've updated both links.
- Andreas_Görlach
Nimbostratus
I have to agree with Torinketo.
CDW is a nightmare. I bought a f5 lab license two weeks ago (or at least I thought so). After three days I wondered why nothing is being delivered. So, I asked back to cdwsales who sent me the order confirmation. No answer. Another two days later, I asked again. Again, no answer. Another two days later I wrote to customer relations. Also I used the contact form on the website for sales. No answer. I tried the chat, and after being transferred I just learned that 'there is a problem with the order'. No indication whatsoever about the nature of the order. I was told to contact the sales rep for that order who - suprise! - up to now did not answer.
Overall this is really sad. If it is not possible to order this license, why can't they at least say so and refund the money?
So, please F5 people, could you do something about that?
- djeff_375138
Nimbostratus
CDW Canada said F5 requires a company name and website when trying to purchase the Lab edition for myself. I don't want support to be linked to a company, as I might not be working for them tomorrow. About three weeks ago I wrote my concern to the sales team, and a second time a week after, with no response from them. Can a person get the lab edition for himself, without having to give a company and website name? And how long should I wait for the sales team to respond back?
- Chase_Abbott
Employee
Hi djeff;
I'm sorry the sales team is incommunicado. Can you copy what you sent to the sales team and send it to us (DevCentral) via the contact form? We'll track down what the issue is there. The company name is there for the support contract but I agree, shouldn't be required. Are you able to use your name as company info "djeff personal copy co." or something?