Deploying F5 Distributed Cloud Customer Edge on AWS in a scalable way with full automation
Scaling infrastructure efficiently while maintaining operational simplicity is a critical challenge for modern enterprises. This comprehensive guide presents the foundation for a fully automated Terraform solution for deploying F5 Distributed Cloud (F5XC) Customer Edge (CE) nodes on AWS that scales seamlessly from single-node proof-of-concepts to multi-node production deployments.Streamlining Certificate Management in F5 Distributed Cloud: From Console Clicks to CLI Efficiency
Introduction Managing TLS certificates at scale in F5 Distributed Cloud (F5 XC) can become a complex task, especially when dealing with multiple namespaces, domains, load balancers, and frequent certificate renewals. While the F5 Distributed Cloud Console provides a comprehensive GUI for certificate management. However, the number of clicks and navigation steps required for routine operations can impact operational efficiency. In this article, we'll explore how to manage custom certificates in F5 Distributed Cloud. We'll compare the console-based approach with a streamlined CLI solution, and demonstrate why using automation tools can significantly improve your certificate management workflow. The Challenge: Certificate Management at Scale Modern enterprises often manage dozens or even hundreds of TLS certificates across their infrastructure. Each certificate requires: Regular renewal (typically every 90 days for Let's Encrypt certificates) Association with the correct load balancers When multiplied across numerous applications and environments, what seems like a simple task becomes a significant operational burden. Understanding F5 Distributed Cloud Certificate Management F5 Distributed Cloud provides robust support for custom TLS certificates (Bring Your Own Certificate - BYOC). The platform allows you to: Create and manage TLS certificate objects with support for both PEM and PKCS12 formats Associate multiple certificates with a single HTTPS load balancer Share certificates across multiple load balancers The Console Approach: Step-by-Step Process Let's walk through the typical process of adding a new certificate via the F5 XC Console: Navigate to Certificate Management (3 clicks/actions) Select Multi-Cloud App Connect service Select Certificate Management from the left menu Click on TLS Certificates Create a New Certificate (8 clicks/actions) Click "Add TLS Certificate" Enter certificate name Set labels and description (optional) Click "Import from File" in the Certificate field Click "Upload File" to upload the certificate Enter password (for PKCS12) Select key type Click "Save and Exit" Attach Certificate to Load Balancer (7 clicks/actions) Navigate to Load Balancers Select or create HTTP Load Balancer Select "HTTPS with Custom Certificate" Configure TLS parameters Select certificates from dropdown Apply configuration Save and Exit Total: 18 clicks/actions minimum for a single certificate deployment Now imagine doing this for 50 certificates across 20 load balancers – that's potentially a lot of clicks! Enter the CLI: CLI TLS Certificate Manager The CLI TLS Certificate Manager (available at https://github.com/veysph/F5XC-Tools/) transforms this multi-step process into simple, scriptable commands. This tool leverages the F5 XC API to provide direct, programmatic access to certificate management functions. Key Benefits of the CLI Approach 1. Dramatic Time Savings What takes 18 clicks in the console becomes a single command: python f5xc_tls_cert_manager.py --config config.json --create 2. Batch Operations / Automation-Ready Process multiple certificates easily. The tool can be integrated/adapted for CI/CD pipelines. 3. Consistent and Repeatable Eliminate human error with standardized commands and configuration files. Practical Use Cases Use Case 1: Multi-Environment Deployment Scenario: Deploying certificates across dev, staging, and production namespaces Console Approach: Navigate to each namespace Repeat certificate upload process Risk: High (manual process prone to errors) Effort: a lot clicks CLI Approach: python f5xc_tls_cert_manager.py --config dev.json --create python f5xc_tls_cert_manager.py --config staging.json --create python f5xc_tls_cert_manager.py --config production.json --create Time: ~5 minutes Risk: Very low (automated validation) Effort: 3 commands Use Case 2: Emergency Certificate Replacement Scenario: Expired (or compromised) certificate needs immediate replacement Console Approach: Stress of navigating multiple screens under pressure Risk of misconfiguration during urgent changes CLI Approach: python f5xc_tls_cert_manager.py --config config.json --replace Conclusion While the F5 Distributed Cloud Console provides a comprehensive and user-friendly interface for certificate management. However, the CLI approach offers undeniable advantages for organizations managing certificates at scale. The Certificate Manager CLI tool bridges the gap between the powerful capabilities of F5 Distributed Cloud and the operational efficiency demands of modern infrastructure code practices. Additional Resources F5 Distributed Cloud Certificate Management Documentation F5XC TLS Certificate Manager CLI Tool F5 Distributed Cloud API Documentation
