Manual Chapter : Troubleshooting using iHealth

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IQ Centralized Management

  • 5.4.0
Manual Chapter

What is iHealth?

The F5® iHealth® server is a tool that helps you troubleshoot potential issues. It does this by analyzing configuration, logs, command output, password security, license compliance, and so on.

From F5 BIG-IQ® Centralized Management, you can create a snapshot of a configuration in the form of a QKView file and then upload it to the F5 iHealth server. The file is compared to the iHealth database, which contains known issues, common configuration errors, and F5 published best practices. F5 returns an iHealth report you can use to identify any potential issues that you need to attend to.

How do I get access to send QKView files for my managed devices to the F5 iHealth diagnostics server?

You'll need a single sign on (SSO) to the F5® Support site to access the F5 iHealth® diagnostics server. If you don't have one yet, register at https://login.f5.com/resource/login.jsp
With access to the F5 iHealth diagnostics server you can upload QKView files and download iHealth reports for your managed devices.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > Configuration .
  3. Click the Add button.
  4. In the Name field, type a name to identify this user.
  5. In the Username and Password fields, type this user's F5 Support SSO user name and password.
  6. In the Description field, type an optional description for this user.
  7. Click the Test button to verify you can reach the iHealth diagnostics site.
  8. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom of the screen.
You can now upload QKView files to the F5 iHealth server to get iHealth reports for your managed devices.

Limit the number of simultaneous iHealth-related file transfers to and from BIG-IQ for my managed devices

If you want to limit how much traffic is dedicated to file activity related to iHealth® for your managed devices, you can specify the of simultaneous QKView file transfers to and from F5® BIG-IQ® Centralized Management.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > Configuration .
  3. For the QKView Transfer Limit setting, click the Edit button.
  4. In the QKView Transfer Limit field, type the greatest number of QKView files you want transferred to and from BIG-IQ at one time, per upload task.
  5. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom of the screen.

Upload a QKView file to the F5 iHealth server to troubleshoot potential issues

To upload a QKView file, you must have access to the F5® iHealth® server configured on BIG-IQ® Centralized Management.
You upload a QKView file to F5 Networks to create an iHealth diagnostics report. You can use that report to troubleshoot potential issues with a managed device.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > Tasks .
  3. Click the QKView Upload button.
  4. In the Name field, type a name to identify this report, and type an optional identifier in the Description field.
  5. If you have (and want to associate) a support case number with this QKView file, type that into the F5 Support Case Number field.
    This step is not required.
  6. From the Credential list, select the credentials to log in to the iHealth diagnostic site.
  7. From the Available list, click the device you want to upload a QKView file for.
  8. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom of the screen.
When BIG-IQ finishes uploading the QKView file(s) to F5, it displays a status icon next to it on the Tasks screen.
If the upload fails, click the report's Name link and view the error message for more information. After F5 successfully receives the QKView file it creates an iHealth report. To view this report, go to the Device Reports screen.

Troubleshoot potential issues by viewing an iHealth device report

After you upload a QKView file for one or more BIG-IP® devices, the F5® iHealth® server returns a device report.
Review the device report so you can address any potential issues or vulnerabilities. From the report, you can access and sort heuristics associated with a device.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > Device Reports .
  3. Click the Open link next to the report you want to view.
  4. To sort the heuristics for a report you've opened, select an option from the All Importance and/or the All Flags list.
  5. You can add a flag to a specific heuristic by selecting the check box next to it, and selecting a flag from the All Flags list.
  6. To view more details about a specific heuristic, click on its link.
  7. To view an article on the AskF5 Knowledge Center database to get more information about this heuristic, click the solution link.

Create a schedule to upload QKView files to the iHealth server

After you specify the credentials for a user to access the F5® iHealth® diagnostic server, you can create a QKView upload schedule.
Configuring BIG-IQ® Centralized Management to upload QKView files to the F5 iHealth diagnostic server on a regular basis means you'll get iHealth device diagnostics reports sent automatically to BIG-IQ for your BIG-IP devices. This information makes it easy for you to troubleshoot potential issues, and keeps you up-to-date about vulnerabilities that could cause security issues for your devices.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > QKView Uploads Schedules .
  3. Near the top of the screen, click the Create button.
  4. In the Name field, type a name to identify this report, and type an optional identifier in the Description field.
  5. From the Credential list, select the credentials to log in to the iHealth diagnostic site.
  6. From the Upload Frequency list, select how frequently you want to upload QKView files to the F5 iHealth server, and then select the day of the week or month.
  7. Select a start date and time for this schedule.
  8. Select an end date for this schedule, or select the No End Date check box.
  9. From the Available list, select the device(s) you want to add to this schedule.
  10. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom of the screen.
Now BIG-IQ will upload QKView files for the selected device on the schedule you specified.
Go to the Device Reports screen to view reports sent from the F5 iHealth server.

Create an upgrade advisor report before you upgrade BIG-IP system

Before you create an upgrade advisor report for a BIG-IP® system, you must specify the credentials for a user to access the F5® iHealth® diagnostic server, and upload the QKView file for that device to the F5 iHealth server.
Before upgrading, you create an upgrade advisor report so that you can prepare for any potential issues you might need to address.
  1. At the top of the screen, click Monitoring.
  2. On the left, click REPORTS > Device > iHealth > Upgrade Advisor Report .
  3. Near the top of the screen, click the Create button.
  4. From the Device list, select the device you want to run a report for.
  5. From the Target Version list, select the version to which you are going to be upgrading this device.
  6. In the Name and Description fields, type a name and an optional description for this task.
  7. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom of the screen.
View the report on the Upgrade Advisor Reports screen and address any potential issues before you upgrade this BIG-IP device.