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How to Prepare For F5-201: TMOS Administration Exam
Preparation Guide for F5-201: TMOS Administration Exam
Introduction
An F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator can manage application delivery networks (ADNs) and perform routine management and troubleshooting of F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS) devices. Two exams are required to achieve the F5-CA certification:
- Exam 101 - Application Delivery Fundamentals
- Exam 201 - TMOS Administration
A F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator manages preexisting BIG-IP installations and preliminary fault isolations. They must have the ability to make necessary configuration changes and modify BIG-IP objects. They are also responsible for application delivery networks (ADNs) and for conducting routine management and troubleshooting of F5 Traffic Management Operating System (TMOS) devices.
These Certified Experts use TMSH as well as a configuration utility to monitor BIG-IP resources such as virtual servers, pools, pool members, nodes, profiles and monitors. They also create, restore from and manage BIG-IP archives. Certified BIG-IP Administrators are further responsible for checking a resource's status, availability and statistics, in order to understand how BIG-IP systems are currently processing traffic.
Administrators define the role of BIG-IP systems as a proxy device within an ADN. They set up, license and provision BIG-IP systems. A Certified BIG-IP Administrator uses profiles to control the way BIG-IP systems process traffic through virtual servers. They are also responsible for troubleshooting and determining problems using various diagnostic tools.
Passing this exam shows independence in performing day-to-day operations and basic troubleshooting of TMOS-based devices in various application environments after it has been installed, configured, and implemented. Individuals may choose to complete their certification journey here or move on to pursue the Technical Professional, Technical Specialist, Cloud, or Security Solutions certification tracks.
Understanding of functional and technical aspects of Troubleshooting Basic Virtual Server Connectivity Issues
The following will be discussed in this section:
- Determine which tools to use in order to diagnose the issue
- Understand how a virtual server processes a request (most specific to least specific)
- Understand how a packet is processed once it arrives at device (connection table, packet filters, etc.)
- Verify the pool member/node Ratio configuration
- Determine the state and availability of the pool member/node in question
- Determine if a virtual server is configured for the proper listening port
- Determine if the pool configuration has an effect on virtual server state
- Explain the concept of “persistence”
- Determine if the virtual server is configured with the appropriate profiles
- Differentiate between fallback and primary persistence
- Determine the state of a virtual server (offline, enabled, etc.)
- Determine if a virtual server is configured with the proper IP address configuration
- Understand the difference between the virtual servers status definitions
- Understand the effects of health monitors on the status of pool members/nodes
- Verify the pool member/node connection configuration and count
- Given a specific connectivity issue, isolate where the problem might be according to the processing order
- Use the appropriate tool to troubleshoot persistence
- Verify the type of persistence profile assigned to the virtual server in question
- Validate the expected persistence behavior
F5 201 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | F5 |
| Exam Name: | BIG-IP Administrator Exam (TMOS Administration) |
| Exam Number: | 201 |
| Certificate Validity Period: | Typically 2 years (subject to F5 program policies) |
| Passing Score: | Scaled score 245 (~70%) |
| Exam Format: | Multiple Choice |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Related Certifications: | F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP Recertification (F5CABR) BIG-IP Administration Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade (F5CAB1) BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Concepts (F5CAB2) BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Configuration (F5CAB3) BIG-IP Administration Control Plane Administration (F5CAB4) BIG-IP Administration Support and Troubleshooting (F5CAB5) |
| Exam Duration: | 90 minutes |
| Real Exam Qty: | Approximately 80 (with some pilot questions) |
| Exam Price: | $180 USD |
| Sample Questions: | F5 201 Sample Questions |
| Exam Way: | Proctored exam delivered through authorized F5 testing providers (Pearson VUE) and as available through online proctoring with Certiverse platform. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| Pre Condition: | Passing the F5 101 Application Delivery Fundamentals exam (or valid eligibility from that exam) may be required; 201 eligibility continues for candidates who passed 101 prior to its retirement. As of 2025, new certification paths use modular F5CAB1–F5CAB5 exams as alternative route to F5 Certified Administrator, BIG-IP. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://education.f5.com/exams/tmos-administration-201 |
Understanding of functional and technical aspects of Troubleshooting basic hardware issues
The following will be discussed in this section:
- Indicate which logs would contain debugging information
- Understand the relationship between interfaces, trunks, VLANs and their status/statistics
- How to correlate the LCD message to message in the corresponding log file
- How to reboot an F5 platform into the EUD
- How to identify which tasks the buttons on the LCD perform
- How to interpret the output from an EUD and determine if the test passed or failed
- How to locate the LCD on an F5 Platform
- Given a possible issue, determine which log file entries to review
- How to download output from the unit an EUD was run on
- Given a log file, determine the nature of a hardware issue
Introduction to F5-201: TMOS Administration Exam
The qualified candidate is capable of performing day-to-day operations of TMOS-based devices which have already been installed. They are also capable of basic troubleshooting of a TMOS-based device in order to provide full, accurate, and appropriate information to senior engineers and/or F5 Support.
They can do any of the following without assistance:
- Understand the relationship and differentiation between virtual servers, virtual server types, virtual addresses, pools, pool members, nodes, profiles, iRules, and address translation (NAT/SNAT)
- Be familiar with HTTP, ClientSSL, ServerSSL, TCP, UDP, and persistence profiles
- Perform software management functions on the platform (for example, capable of performing upgrades and licensing).
- Perform administrative tasks using the GUI
- Able to access and manage the BIG-IP through multiple paths (management IP, Self IP)
- Open a support case and utilize online resources such as AskF5, F5 iHealth, and DevCentral
Reference: https://support.education.f5.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403999362715-TMOS-Administration-201
F5 201 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Protocol and Profile Understanding | - Protocol concepts
|
| Operations and Support | - Operational tasks
|
| BIG-IP Configuration Elements | - Core configuration objects
|
| Access and Basic Management | - Manage access methods
|
By Betsy
