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F5-201 TMOS Administration Certification Exam

F5-201 Exam

March 13, 2022

4 mins read

Amit K

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The F5-201 TMOS Administration certification exam is the second exam required to become an F5 Certified BIG-IP administrator. To receive their certification, candidates must pass the F5-101 Application Delivery Fundamentals exam and the F5-201 TMOS Administration exam.

The F5-201 exam is suitable for F5 or network professionals with intermediate work experience who have already passed the F5-101 exam and want to acquire the skills necessary to troubleshoot F5 BIG-IP LTM devices in standalone and high availability mode, as well as design and implement features such as health monitors, profiles, and load balancing.

The exam covers troubleshooting virtual server connectivity issues, basic hardware issues, basic performance issues, basic device management connectivity issues, opening a support ticket with F5, identifying and reporting device status, maintaining system configuration, and managing system and application services. The online exam tests candidates' knowledge and skills across these topics.

Exam Prerequisites

To succeed in the F5-201 certification exam, candidates should have a basic understanding of network fundamentals, protocols, and traffic management concepts and the basic concepts of F5 technology as they relate to these topics. Candidates need to be familiar with how F5 technology can be applied to network fundamentals, protocols, and traffic management to succeed in the exam.

Who should take the F5-201 certification exam?

The F5-201 certification is designed for individuals who have a basic understanding of network fundamentals, protocols, and traffic management concepts and want to validate their ability to integrate these skills with advanced application-layer understanding. Candidates should have a general understanding of F5 certification technology related to these concepts. This certification demonstrates a candidate's ability to manipulate the entire application stack, from traditional network knowledge to advanced application-layer understanding.

To take the exam, candidates should possess the following knowledge and skills:

Understanding the benefits of using a complete application proxy.
Describing the seven layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.
Explaining proper uses and methods of HTTP.
Identifying and defining the components of the F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS).

F5-201 Exam Objectives

The F5-201 exam, also known as the TMOS Administration certification exam, is designed to test a candidate's knowledge and skills in managing the F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS). To prepare for this exam, candidates should familiarize themselves with these topics and be able to demonstrate their understanding through the completion of related tasks. Additionally, candidates should be able to apply this knowledge to managing the F5 TMOS in a real-world setting.

Troubleshoot basic virtual server connectivity issues

Given a connectivity troubleshooting situation, consider the packet and virtual server processing order
Identify the reason a virtual server is not working as expected
Identify the reason a pool member has been marked down by health monitors
Identify a pool member not in the active priority group
Identify traffic diverted due to persistence record
Identify the current configured state of the pool member
Identify a persistence issue

Troubleshoot basic hardware issues

Perform an End User Diagnostic per F5 documentation and collect the output
Interpret the LCD Warning Messages
Identify a possible hardware issue within the log files
Force an active unit to standby under the appropriate circumstances
Understand the relationship between interfaces, trunks, VLANs and their status/statistics

Troubleshoot basic performance issues

Recognize when a packet capture is needed within the context of a performance issue Objective 3.02 Use BIG-IP tools in order to identify potential performance issues

Troubleshoot basic device management connectivity issues

Verify remote connectivity to the BIG-IP in order to determine the cause of a management connectivity issue
Check and interpret port lockdown settings and packet filters in order to determine the cause of a management connectivity issue to a Self-IP
Given the use of a remote authentication server, verify proper DNS and NTP settings in order to diagnose a connectivity issue

Open a support ticket with F5

Identify the appropriate supporting components and severity levels for an F5 support ticket
Given an issue, determine the appropriate severity according to F5 guidelines
Provide quantitative and relevant information appropriate for a given issue

Identify and report current device status

Review the Network Map in order to determine the status of objects
Use the dashboard to gauge the current running status of the system
Review log files and identify possible events
Use iApps Analytics to gauge the current running status of application services

Maintain system configuration

Create and restore a UCS archive under the appropriate circumstances
Identify which high-level tasks can be automated using BIG-IQ
Manage software images
Given an HA pair, describe the appropriate strategy for deploying a new software image
Understand the processes of licensing, license reactivation, and license modification (add-ons)
Identify which modules are licensed and/or provisioned
Explain how to create a user
Explain how to modify user properties

Manage existing system and application services

Modify and manage virtual servers
Modify and manage pools

Benefits of earning the F5-201 TMOS Administration certification

Career advancement:

Obtaining the F5-201 TMOS Administration certification demonstrates your knowledge and skills in managing the F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS). This can benefit individuals looking for jobs working with F5 technology and professionals who want to further their careers. This certification can help you stand out to potential employers and showcase your expertise in the field.

Widely-recognized:

Earning the F5-201 TMOS Administration certification can help you gain credibility and recognition in the industry. The F5-201 exam is a widely recognized certification that can differentiate you from your peers and showcase your expertise to potential employers or clients. By obtaining this certification, you can demonstrate your knowledge and skills in managing the F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS) and enhance your professional reputation in the industry.

Job opportunities:

Passing the F5-201 TMOS Administration certification exam can help expand your job prospects, particularly in F5 TMOS management. Completing this exam demonstrates your knowledge and skills and can open up new job opportunities. It is a valuable credential if you want to work with F5 technology or pursue a career in F5 TMOS management.

Improve skills:

Taking the F5-201 TMOS Administration certification exam can help improve your skills and knowledge in F5 TMOS management. The exam covers various topics in this area, allowing you to deepen your understanding of these concepts and technologies. By preparing for and completing this exam, you can increase your proficiency in F5 TMOS management and enhance your skills in this field.

Professional reputation:

The F5-201 TMOS Administration certification exam is the second step towards achieving the F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator certification. This certification demonstrates high proficiency in F5 technology and can open up more career opportunities. By completing the F5-201 exam, you can move closer to achieving this prestigious certification, which can further enhance your professional reputation and job prospects.