An F5 SSL certificate refers to an SSL/TLS digital certificate installed on an F5 BIG-IP device to enable secure (HTTPS) traffic management. In simple terms, it’s the same kind of certificate used on any secure web server – a file that verifies identity and enables encryption – but uploaded to the F5 BIG-IP (a popular... » read more
The F5 101 – Application Delivery Fundamentals exam is the first stepping stone for network engineers aiming to become F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrators. This foundational exam validates your understanding of essential networking concepts, protocols, and F5 technologies. Passing F5 101 not only earns you a certification but also proves you have the baseline skills to... » read more
IntroductionCompTIA Security+ is one of the most popular entry-level cybersecurity certifications – but what does it actually do for your career? If you’re an IT professional in the U.S. wondering “What jobs can I get with a Security+ certification?”, you’re not alone. Many people obtain Security+ to break into security or advance from their current... » read more
When a website or application is hosted on multiple servers, a load balancer helps distribute incoming requests so that no single server gets overwhelmed. The F5 BIG-IP is a popular load balancer device that sits between the users (clients) and a group of servers. It acts as a traffic proxy: clients send requests to the... » read more
Last Updated: March 2025 – This guide covers the latest F5 BIG-IP version (as of this writing, v17.xf5.com) and provides step-by-step configuration instructions for common real-world use cases. We’ll walk through Web Application Load Balancing, SSL Offloading (TLS termination), and Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) using both the F5 GUI and the CLI (tmsh). Along... » read more
Introduction In today’s digital-first world, ensuring fast, reliable, and secure access to applications is critical. This is where load balancing plays a pivotal role. By distributing network traffic across multiple servers, load balancers prevent any single server from becoming overwhelmed, ensuring optimal performance and uptime. F5 Networks, a global leader in application delivery and security, offers one... » read more
Introduction When browsing the web through a Fortinet firewall that intercepts HTTPS traffic, your device might show a certificate warning. This happens because the Fortinet appliance presents its own certificate for SSL inspection. If your device does not trust the Fortinet root certificate, you’ll see an error message. Impact: Interrupted secure web access Confusing error... » read more
Prerequisites Before you begin, make sure you have the following: Fortinet Certificate File: Typically provided in .cer, .crt, or .pem format. Administrative Access: You’ll need admin rights on your Windows machine. Compatible Windows Version: This guide works for Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11. Downloading the Certificate The first step is to obtain the Fortinet... » read more
Introduction to SSL Certificate Expiration Monitoring on F5 Devices Why Monitoring SSL Certificate Expiration is Crucial SSL certificates secure communication between clients and servers. When a certificate expires, browsers display security warnings, and services may become inaccessible, potentially causing downtime and reputational damage. Regularly checking expiration dates ensures compliance with security standards and prevents unexpected... » read more