Automate F5 Initial Setup - iControl & Ansible

[Mark_Wall]

Problem this snippet solves:

While everyone loves F5, we all know the initial system setup, networking components and device service cluster is a tedious process. This simple Ansible playbook will allow you to automate the entire F5 initial setup by reading a CSV file and leave you with a ready to go active/standby pair.

This does include setting up - NTP, DNS, Hostname, LACP, dot1q, Self-IPs, device trust, configuration sync, etc

How to use this snippet:

How to Use

Required Items

• Ansible (tested on version 2.1)
• Blank pair of F5s with management IP configured (version 12.0 & 12.1)

Install Ansible if Needed

Official Ansible Install Guide

Great 3rd Party Install Guide

Download and Run F5 Ansible Setup Playbook - f5_ansible_setup.yml

Please run the following Ansible Playbook. This will download the required modules, playbook for F5 Initial Setup and example CSV file. Be sure to run this playbook from ~/ansible/playbooks/

F5 Ansible Setup Playbook

Fill Out CSV File - f5_initial_setup.csv

Use the example CSV file as an example to fit to your environment. Using the CSV file allows you to not have to edit the actual F5 Initial Setup Playbook. This was tested on a pair of 5200v's with so adjust interfaces as needed. The CSV file will be automatically downloaded from GitHub when you run the F5 Ansible Install Playbook.

Run F5 Initial Setup Playbook - f5_initial_setup.yml

Once you have edited the CSV file to your needs, run the F5 Initial Setup Playbook. This playbook will read the CSV file and configure the two F5 devices from scratch. When everything completes, you should be left with an active/standby pair of devices ready to go!

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If you want to manually install the Ansible Playbook & Modules, please check out - GitHub

Code :

https://github.com/mwallco/f5_ansible

Tested this on version:

12.0

[BAGS_123349]

This is an outstanding solution. I give it 5 Stars!!!

[jachbr214]

Very nice! Awesome work here.

[Mark_Wall]

Thanks! One key point here is that you do not have to understand or touch Ansible/programming to utilize this. Once the playbook is setup, all you need to be able to do is edit a CSV file for your particular needs.

[Joe_Ploehn_2189]

Ansible makes this a powerful solution. I know I will use it!

[melikjay_275886]

As a deployment engineer who is not well versed with the F5 platform this is an awesome solution! I can easily stand up a new F5 and bring it up online without having to wait for an F5 savvy engineer to do so. I can have basic L2 & L3 functionality operational and verified saving time on our projects.

[RogerWhite_7879]

Nice work on the Automation.

[shawnwat_276005]

great work

[brianborland_27]

Good Stuff

[JamesD]

I have tried it out and it works really fast after you get a hang of it.

[Stooks_277152]

Nice job!

[Mark_Wall]

Here is a quick video demo

F5 Ansible Initial Setup

[Aramnauth]

Has anyone got this to work on F5 VE's?

[KernelPanic]

What are the various software compatibility dependencies for getting ansible f5 to work?

[prt1969]

Anything similar for deploying a new virtual server, pool, and nodes?

[Waqar_229546]

Can anyone share the playbook to add virtual servers, pools, nodes etc?