F5 BIG-IQ

BIG-IQ is a product for simplification of tasks of control of a large number of BIG-IP devices (as hardware platforms in the form of separate devices and blades, and virtual) in DPC and in a cloud.

BIG-IQ helps to solve problems of device management of BIG-IP, software updating, licenses, security policies, condition monitoring of the equipment and capacity of devices – and all this from one management console. By means of open API (iControl) there is an ability to integrate with existing solutions of infrastructure management, for example, of VMware vCenter Orchestrator and HP ArcSight.

The solution BIG-IQ includes BIG-IQ Cloud - a core of the solution, BIG-IQ Device and BIG-IQ Security.

BIG-IQ Cloud

BIG-IQ Cloud automates process of implementation of the modules BIG-IP in traditional and virtual infrastructures. BIG-IQ Cloud allows to deploy BIG-IP devices on cloud platforms of VMware, OpenStack and Amazon Web Services.

BIG-IQ cloud

BIG-IQ Device

BIG-IQ Device will help to simplify centralized operation and monitoring of BIG-IP devices (hardware and virtual platforms) in traditional and cloud infrastructure.

Tasks:

• deployment and updating of firmwares of BIG-IP
• management of licenses
• detection and monitoring of BIG-IP devices
• backup and recovery of configurations.

BIG-IQ Security

BIG-IQ Security assists in the organization of centralized operation by security policies of the modules BIG-IP Application Security Manager and BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager. The user receives the consolidated type of all security policies, their ratio, correctness, optimality and statistics. BIG-IQ Security will help to solve problems:

• centralized operation by security policies
• check of settings of the firewall
• purpose of new security policies in the transparent mode
• statistics on security policies
• snapshots which allow to browse a change history of security policies and provide an opportunity to recover the previous configuration.

BIG-IQ Security is available only in the form of the virtual device.

BIG-IP Virtual Edition works at the platform of hypervisors VMware ESXi Microsoft Hyper-V Citrix XenServer, Linux KVM, a cloud service Amazon Web Services.

2016: BIG-IQ Centralized Management 5.0

On July 15, 2016 the F5 Networks company announced release of the upgraded version of the BIG-IQ Centralized Management 5.0 platform.

BIG-IQ Centralized Management platform, (2015)

The platform supports functions of control, preparation of reports, licensing and management, it simplifies work of the products F5 BIG-IP. In the current version support of the solution BIG-IP Access Policy Manager is implemented.

For customers well simultaneous management, updating and setup of a configuration of application services as much as possible for 200 physical and virtual devices, and work from 5 thousand licenses (as much as possible) BIG-IP.

2015

F5 Networks updated the BIG-IQ platform

On January 26, 2015 the F5 Networks company announced release of the new version of the platform of management of F5 BIG-IQ.

Upgraded version of BIG-IQ provides more effective joint operation of network of division and development teams by means of centralized operation with delivery of applications and role access control. As a result workflows become simpler.

As a part of BIG-IQ the innovation application programming interfaces of UI and RESTful for centralized operation by F5 BIG-IP devices and for management of the solutions F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)|are offered Local Traffic Manager]], Advanced Firewall Manager and Application Security Manager.

Use of BIG-IQ of the iApps templates allows to manage Software Defined Application Services, both in corporate infrastructures, and in public and private cloud environments for fall forward of business and elimination of a set of the risks connected with individual management of hotel solutions. BIG-IQ provides single solution for integration of solutions of F5 company and technologies of the company Cisco VMware, Microsoft and OpenStack.

Functionality

• Services of management of delivery of applications: role centralized operation by functions of delivery of applications within all network for increase in efficiency of management of application services.

• Management of delivery of applications in a cloud: enhanced capabilities of connection and partner integration with cloud platforms by means of third-party developers and higher level of satisfaction of customers at the expense of the improved workflows and integration.

• Control of BIG-IP-devices: control of physical and virtual BIG-IP-devices and licensing of Virtual Edition in a single window.

• Security management: centralization of deployment, administration and management of security policies for simplification of management of politicians of firewalls for the purpose of improvement of common defense.

• Reduction of risks: safer change management due to simpler setup of a configuration and removal of a set of administrative contact points for different devices.

Availability

The latest version of BIG-IQ will be published in February, 2015.

Representation of BIG-IQ, 2014

2014

BIG-IQ is compatible to VMware NSX

On September 22, 2014 the F5 Networks company and VMware announced mutual integration of platforms of management of BIG-IQ and virtualization of VMware NSX networks for operational management of application services and services of networks 2–7 levels in program-controlled data processing centers.

The compatibility of platforms will allow clients to take all advantage of technology of automation of network services of the VMware NSX platform and technologies of management of delivery services of applications of F5 company.

Using the joint solution customers can use all services BIG-IP directly in NSX Manager within process of deployment of standard virtual machines. It will allow them to reduce deployment time from several days to several minutes.

Using the updated solutions, customers will have an opportunity to automate process of deployment of services on a basis the politician for multilevel applications in program-controlled data processing centers. The new solution can be deployed without violation of work of systems therefore customers will be able to be used functionality of BIG-IP and BIG-IQ in virtual environments of NSX and to continue use of own iApps templates by means of original F5 interfaces.

• Simple management – customers will be able to take all advantage of a broad spectrum of application services of F5 company without the excess complexity connected with difficulties of management. VMware NSX provides advantages of efficiency of work to application services to acceleration, ensuring availability and security. Integration will allow customers to receive more effective control over use of services.

• Scalable services and automation – the Approved consumption pattern and integration based on API will allow customers to set and configure configurations the politician for services of acceleration, protection of availability and virtualization for implementation in data processing centers and cloud environments. The joint solution will give to IT specialists the chance to automate how the systems of VMware and F5 work and react to the changing conditions. At the same time the production infrastructure is not broken and work of business services is not affected.

• Effective implementation of applications – due to consolidation of advantage of approaches of both companies customers will be able to increase as much as possible the speed of network functioning and applications using Software-Defined Application Services. The integrated functionality expands the field of use of the iApps templates of F5 company, helping by optimization of popular applications and additional scenarios of implementation.