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

[Chase_Abbott]

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:

• CDW BIG-IP Virtual Edition Lab License
• CDW Canada BIG-IP Virtual Edition Lab License

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

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.

[gblydenburgh]

SHI.COM experiment complete:

On Sunday, September 13, 2020 10:52 PM, Inquiry <Inquiry@shi.com> wrote:

Hi,

Thank you for contacting SHI!

Unfortunately, we are unable to fulfill your request. SHI is a business-to-business (B2B) solutions provider that currently only provides services to organizations. We are unable to process personal purchases or create accounts with non-business domains (Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.)

SHI Inquiry

Innovative Solutions. World Class Support.

I was actually emailing with a human, and got this automated email when I replied that I wasn't with a business. That's a real class move there.

[KeesvandenBos]

  Drop me an email and I will provide you with a quotation for a LAB VE V18

[gblydenburgh]

Got my licenses, everything took 7 days. Started with my initial contact on 9/10. The order was released from the distributor to F5 on 9/15, and F5 emailed my license keys and support contract on 9/17. The entire time Sean was PROACTIVELY emailing updates. Thank you @WeaverJK for posting about this vendor!

Adapture (F5 Guardian Partner)

Sean Conway

404-626-4540

sconway@adapture.com

[Hoolio]

CDW and SHI should be back processing credit card orders for VE lab (v18) without needing a quote. CDW should be able to process orders from many places around the world through their international offices: https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/solutions/international.html

We're still working on making this easier to buy VE lab licenses with a credit card, but hopefully this helps in the meantime.

Aaron

[Jer-O]

It would be nice if CDW would stop using confusing terms like v18 as well. Why not just say, TMOS 16 or similar, since that's the only one out? CDW's terminology makes a bad situation worse.

Hoolio, you are an awesome and helpful human being. Thank you for your years of helpful service on Dev Central!

[Hoolio]

Hi Jer,

Thanks for your kind comments.

v18 is in the F5 SKU name and is F5's attempt at showing that the SKU is good for TMOS software versions up to 18.

K15643: BIG-IP VE license offerings

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

For example, a BIG-IP VE SKU F5-BIG-xxx-xxx-V16 enables customers to have perpetual usage with upgrades up to and through the last major, minor, maintenance, and point release of BIG-IP 16.x.x. Similarly, a BIG-IP VE SKU F5-BIG-xxx-xxx-V18 enables perpetual usage with upgrades up to and through the last major, minor, maintenance, and point release of BIG-IP 18.x.x.

[Tham]

Hi Im looking to buy a lab version for LTM/ASM/GTM etc,

Living in London UK,

Can you please advice if the below link will help me with what I am looking for ? :

Thanks

https://www.cdw.com/product/big-ip-virtual-edition-lab-license-v.-18.x-license-10-mbps/5623506?pfm=srh

BIG-IP Virtual Edition Lab License (v. 18.x) - license - 10 Mbps

Mfg.Part: F5-BIG-VE-LAB-V18 | CDW Part: 5623506 | UNSPSC: 43233204

[Hoolio]

Hi Tham,

I believe CDW should be able to sell you VE lab licenses in England. You could confirm with them:

https://www.uk.cdw.com/

020 7791 6000

info@uk.cdw.com

Aaron

[Tham]

Thanks Hoolio,

[Tham]

just a silly question please

Are the lab license is for life? ie can we use it on any future versions?

Thanks

[Jer-O]

@Hoolio, thank you for the clarification. I guess CDW's epic failures during two attempts to purchase V18 added to the confusion. This sounds great (when it works).

[Hoolio]

Sorry it hasn't been easy for you. If you get stuck again feel free to email me (my first name at f5 dot com) and I'll try to help.

Aaron

[Hoolio]

Hey  , perpetual VE licenses like F5-BIG-VE-LAB-V18 will work forever and can be upgraded to the version in the SKU name (v18 in this example).

K15643: BIG-IP VE license offerings

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

Aaron

[KeesvandenBos]

Hi  and  ,

You can upgrade them with a valid support contract.....

Kees

[gblydenburgh]

The part number I used to order a support contract for my VE licenses was

F5-SVC-BIG-VE+PREL13

"BIGIP PREMIUM SVC VE LEVEL 1-3 SLIC 7X24 VERSIONPLUS ONLY"

price $17.00/per year

I noticed that this still requires you to request a quote.

[Hoolio]

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

Aaron

[Tham]

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

[Hoolio]

Tham, can you email me (aaron at f5 dot com)?

[Tham]

just emailed - thanks

[abdielhernande1]

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

[KeesvandenBos]

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

[WeaverJK]

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

[WeaverJK]

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!

[abdielhernande1]

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.

[KeesvandenBos]

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

[André_Marques]

 You still are an F5 authorized partnet? Trying to buy for a few weeks a license for my lab, to be permanent, and its been crazy, don't have it yet 😐

[KeesvandenBos]

Yes I am.

[Chris_FP]

We can offer Lab Licenses in the UK. 

F5 have some stipulations :-

• We can only supply to a Ltd / Plc company - not to individuals. 
• The email address cannot be a free one - so gmail, googlemail, yahoo, outlook etc. type domains are not allowed.

In terms of what we offer, it comes with 5yrs support on the lab license. 

If you're interested please email us at lablicense@fullproxy.com

[Sammiekylan231]

Nice one, thanks for that👍👍👍

[nicole1]

Hello, has anyone found a reseller in Europe who is willing to sell F5 lab license to individuals? I tried to contact CDW UK, some resellers from my country but no luck. Thanks.

[Chris_FP]

If you can use a company email address then we can help.

[nicole1]

Unfortunately, I don´t have such option.

[Leslie_Hubertus]

Hey @nicole1  - I'm really sorry it is so frustrating (and for my slow reply). DevCentral MVP @KeesvandenBos is based in NL and sells licenses to individuals through his site. I believe he can sell to you in the UK. 

[KeesvandenBos]

@nicole1 , you can drop me an email (kees"at"kees4ip"dot"nl) or use the contact form on my webpage (https://kees4ip.nl)

[nicole1]

@Leslie_Hubertus, @KeesvandenBos, thank you so much for your help.

[manoj27]

@Leslie_Hubertus @Chase_Abbott  @Hoolio  

I need BIG-IP Virtual Edition Lab License in India, please help me.

[Leslie_Hubertus]

Hi @manoj27 - if you work for an F5 customer, I suggest reaching out to your local sales team to ask for one, or reaching out to @KeesvandenBos to purchase one at cost directly through his web page at https://kees4ip.nl

[Hoolio]

Hi manoj27, if you get stuck and want an eval lab license, feel free to email me (aaron at f5 dot com).

Also, there are many F5 partners who now sell VE lab licenses online.  I didn't see one specifically in India though.

https://www.google.com/search?q=f5+ve+lab+license 

Thanks, Aaron

[Pache]

Hi ,

I have being looking at this thread and just want to confirm if by buying https://www.cdw.com/product/big-ip-virtual-edition-lab-license-v.-18.x-10-mbps/5623506

I will be able to use all the Advanced WAF modules.

My main goal with my lab is to setup WAF tutorials, so I'm looking for a license that would enable me access to all Advanced WAF settings (BOT Defense, DDOS, Brute Force, Datasafe, etc)

[KeesvandenBos]

Hi,

Subscriptions are not included in the LAB VE license. DDOS, Brute Force will be included, Datasafe isn't part of the license.

CDW only sell's to buyers in the US. The rest of the world can contact me.