Introduction

As AI models get more advanced, running them at scale—especially in cloud-native environments like Kubernetes—can be tricky. That’s where the Model Context Protocol (MCP) comes in. MCP makes it easier to connect and interact with AI models, but managing all the traffic and scaling these services as demand grows is a whole different challenge.

In this article and demo video, I will show how F5's BIG-IP Next for K8s (BNK), a powerful cloud native traffic management platform from F5 can solve that and keep things running smoothly and scale your MCP services as needed.

 

Model Context Protocol (MCP) in a nutshell.

There were many articles explaining what is MCP on the internet. Please refer to those in details.

In a nutshell, it is a standard framework or specification to securely connect AI apps to your critical data, tools, and workflow. The specification allow

• Tracking of context across multiple conversation
• Tool integration — model call external tools
• Share memory/state — remember information.

MCP’s "glue" model to tools through a universal interface "USB-C for AI"

 

What EXACTLY does MCP solve?

MCP addresses many challenges in the AI ecosystem. I believe two key challenges it solve

Complexities of integrating AI Model (LLM) with external sources and tools

• By standardization with a universal connector ("USB-C for AI")
• Everyone build "USB-C for AI" port so that it can be easily plug in each other
• Interoperability.

Security with external integration

• Framework to establish secure connection
• Managing permission and authorization.

 

What is BIG-IP’s Next for K8s (BNK)? 

BNK is F5 modernized version of the well-known Big-IP platform, redesigned to work seamlessly in cloud-native environments like Kubernetes. It is a scalable networking and security solution for ingress and egress traffic control. It builds on decades of F5's leadership in application delivery and security. It powers Kubernetes networking for today's complex workloads. BNK can be deployed on X86 architecture or ARM architecture - Nvidia Data Processing Unit (DPU)

 

Lets see how F5's BNK scale and traffic managed an AIOps ecosystem.

DEMO

Architecture Setup

 

Video

 

 

Key Takeaways

• BIGIP Next for K8s, the backbone of the MCP architecture
• Technology built on decades of market-leading application delivery controller technology
• Secure, Deliver, and Optimize your AI infrastructure
• Provides deep insight through observability and visibility of your MCP traffic.