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

(applies to BIG-IP TMOS Edition)


To assist operational teams 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, and you are in either Canada or the US 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, log into my.f5.com (separate login from DevCentral), navigate down to the Downloads card under the Support Resources section of the page.  Select BIG-IP from the product group family and then the current version of BIG-IP. 

You will be presented with a list of options, at the bottom, select the Virtual-Edition option that has the following descriptions:

  • For VMware Fusion or Workstation or ESX/i: Image fileset for VMware ESX/i Server
  • For Microsoft HyperV: Image fileset for Microsoft Hyper-V
  • KVM RHEL/CentoOS:  Image file set for KVM Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS

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 for development or lab environments.  Similar to driving a tank, use your best judgement.

Note:  F5 Support maintains authoritative Azure, AWS, Hyper-V, and ESX/vCloud installation documentation.  VMware Fusion is not an official F5-supported hypervisor so DevCentral publishes the Fusion guide with the help of our Field Systems Engineering teams.
Updated Mar 12, 2025
Version 4.0
101
application delivery
BIG-IP
deployment
devops
virtualization
WAWMART

152 Comments

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  • KeesvandenBos's avatar
    KeesvandenBos
    Icon for MVP rankMVP
    Nov 06, 2020

    Hi John,

     

    I am an F5 authorised partner and because of the issues with the online portals want to help people that are looking for an LAB VE licences.

    Living matters as I don't want to sell these licenses to the US.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Kees

  • abdielhernande1's avatar
    abdielhernande1
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Nov 06, 2020

    Thanks everyone, I think Kees was asking because the page did lock me out based on my location. After I connected to a US VPN from work I was able to access and requested a quote.

  • WeaverJK's avatar
    WeaverJK
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Nov 06, 2020

    sorry for the odd formatting.... I can never post from my phone as, even after logging in, F5 tells me that there's an invalid identity credential when I go to post...so, sent this my to daughter's laptop and posting from a hotel room while on travel... fun :)

     

     

    Have a great day!

     

  • WeaverJK's avatar
    WeaverJK
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Nov 06, 2020

    Kees,

    1) we appreciate the offer of assistance.

    2) why would their living location matter?

    3) which business that has F5 retail rights are you affiliated with?

     

    And is, please see the thread above. I have listed several businesses that F5 acknowledges as authorized foe retail sales of F5 products.

    in addition, I listed one dales person in particular whom responded to my queries and at least one other labber has confirmed they purchased lab licenses from that individual.

     

    best

    wishes,

     

    John

     

     

     

  • KeesvandenBos's avatar
    KeesvandenBos
    Icon for MVP rankMVP
    Nov 06, 2020

    Hi  ,

     

    Where do you live? I can help you on getting a LAB License. You can drop me an email at kees[at]kees4ip[dot]nl

     

    Cheers,

     

    Kees

  • abdielhernande1's avatar
    abdielhernande1
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Nov 06, 2020

    I want to get a lab license but I get forbidden access error. Any other place I can buy a lab license?

  • Tham's avatar
    Tham
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Sep 28, 2020

    Thanks all

    iam looking to get v18 lab version so i can lab and learn BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager, Access, Application Firewall, Network Firewall, DNS

     

    can someone direct me to the right place please, as im not getting response from cdw-uk or they not answering my queries, im in uk.

    Thanks

     

  • Aaron_Hooley's avatar
    Aaron_Hooley
    Ret. Employee
    Sep 28, 2020

    Hi  , you can actually upgrade a VE version plus license up to the max version in the SKU name without support. See these solutions for details:

     

    K15643: BIG-IP VE license offerings

    https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K15643

     

    K63265242: Error Message: 51134, F5 registration key is not compatible with the detected version - This software version, "y.y.y" cannot be activated with this registration key "xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx"

    https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K63265242

     

    0691T000009ifftQAA.jpg

     

    Aaron