Use this quick start guide to collect all the information about F5 BIG-IP LTM Architect, Setup, and Deploy (301A) Certification exam. This study guide provides a list of objectives and resources that will help you prepare for items on the 301A F5 BIG-IP LTM Specialist Architect, Setup, and Deploy exam. The Sample Questions will help you identify the type and difficulty level of the questions and the Practice Exams will make you familiar with the format and environment of an exam. You should refer this guide carefully before attempting your actual F5 BIG-IP LTM certification exam.
The F5 BIG-IP LTM Architect, Setup, and Deploy certification is mainly targeted to those candidates who want to build their career in Specialist domain. The F5 Certified Technology Specialist - Local Traffic Manager (F5-CTS LTM) exam verifies that the candidate possesses the fundamental knowledge and proven skills in the area of F5 BIG-IP LTM.
F5 BIG-IP LTM Architect, Setup, and Deploy Exam Summary:
| Exam Name | F5 Certified Technology Specialist - Local Traffic Manager (F5-CTS LTM) |
| Exam Code | 301A |
| Exam Price | $180 (USD) |
| Duration | 90 mins |
| Number of Questions | 80 |
| Passing Score | 245 / 350 |
| Books / Training | F5 Training Programs |
| Schedule Exam | Pearson VUE |
| Sample Questions | F5 BIG-IP LTM Architect, Setup, and Deploy Sample Questions |
| Practice Exam | F5 301A Certification Practice Exam |
F5 301A Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
ARCHITECT AND DEPLOY APPLICATIONS |
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Determine which configuration objects are necessary to optimally deploy an application
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- Determine least amount of configuration objects needed to deploy application
- Understand dependencies of configuration objects - Understand needed LTM profiles to deploy an application - Identify unnecessary configurations objects - Understand the differences between virtual servers and virtual addresses |
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Determine whether or not an application can be deployed with only the LTM module provisioned
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- Identify the functionality of LTM configuration objects
- Identify LTM profile settings to deploy an application - Determine capabilities of LTM configuration objects |
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Identify the difference between deployments (e.g., one arm, two arm, npath, Direct Server Return/DSR)
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- Identify configuration objects needed for L2/L3 npath routing
- Determine how the IP address changes when using DSR - Determine how IP addresses change when using a full proxy deployment - Plan the network considerations for one arm and two arm deployments - Understand the importance of auto last-hop |
| Choose correct profiles and settings to fit application requirements |
- Identify LTM profile settings to deploy OneConnect
- Determine which profiles are needed to deploy an application - Compare and contrast different communication protocols (TCP, UDP, FastL4) - Compare performance impact of LTM profile settings |
| Choose virtual server type and load balancing type to fit application requirements |
- Determine the difference between L2-L3 virtual servers
- Compare and contrast standard and fastL4 virtual server types - Compare and contrast different load balancing methods - Identify different load balancing method use cases |
| Determine how to architect and deploy multi-tier applications using LTM |
- Understand connection based architecture and when/how to apply
- SNAT/persistence/SSL settings in a multi-tiered environment - Identify which device handles specific configuration objects in a multi-tiered deployment |
| Distinguish between packet based versus connection based load balancing |
- Demonstrate when to use packet based load balancing
- Demonstrate when to use connection based load balancing |
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Determine which configuration objects are necessary for applications that need the original client IP address
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- Determine when SNAT is required
- Determine the required SNAT type - Identify functions of X-forwarded-for - Outline the steps needed to return the traffic to LTM without SNAT |
| Identify the matching order of multiple virtual servers |
- Identify which virtual server would process particular traffic
- Identify why the virtual server fails to receive traffic |
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Given a basic iRule's functionality, determine the profiles and configuration options necessary to implement the iRule
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- Determine what virtual server profile is necessary
- Determine when persistence profile is necessary |
| Describe how to deploy applications using iApp templates |
- Recognize how to modify an application deployed with an iApp
- Identify objects created by an iApp |
SET UP, ADMINISTER, AND SECURE LTM DEVICES |
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| Determine how to secure Self IPs |
- Identify which administrative services need to be accessible
- Identify which configurations objects are allowing accessibility - Identify which services must be enabled for HA availability between devices |
| Determine how to secure virtual servers |
- Determine how to limit access to virtual servers
- Compare and contrast different virtual server types - Identify LTM profiles setting to limit access to virtual server resources |
| Determine how to perform basic device configuration |
- Identify how to synch time/date amongst LTM devices
- Determine how to limit administrative access to LTM device (GUI/CLI) - Identify how to restrict access to administrative partitions |
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Determine how to perform a software upgrade while maintaining application availability
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- Identify proper steps to avoid downtime while upgrading LTM software
- Determine necessary steps for migrating LTM configuration to new hardware - Understand implications of stopping BIG-IP services |
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Determine how to configure a high availability group of LTM devices to fit the requirements
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- Compare and contrast traffic groups vs HA groups
- Determine what prevented an expected failover - Describe the differences between network failover and hardware failover |
| Apply concepts required to use BIG-IP functionality to fulfill security requirements |
- Make use of port lockdown
- Demonstrate how to restrict access to management interface - Demonstrate how to restrict access to virtual servers |
| Determine how configuration changes affect existing and new connections |
- Predict persistence for existing connections
- Calculate when changes will affect the connections - Predict load balancing and persistence for new connections - Determine the impact of virtual server configuration change on traffic |
| Explain the uses of user roles, administrative partitions, and route domains |
- Explain how to restrict access to LTM using user roles
- Discuss the benefits of administrative partitions - Apply user roles to administrative partitions - Explain the functionality of route domains - Summarize how the 3 technologies can be used together |
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Determine how to deploy or upgrade vCMP guests and how the resources are distributed
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- Explain the different vCMP guest deployment states
- Discuss the relationship between CPU and memory on vCMP - Select which versions can run on a guest given host version - Understand the relationship of network configuration objects between vCMP hosts and vCMP guests |
To ensure success in F5 BIG-IP LTM certification exam, we recommend authorized training course, practice test and hands-on experience to prepare for F5 BIG-IP LTM Specialist Architect, Setup, and Deploy (301A) exam.