Manual Chapter : Monitors Settings Reference

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IP Link Controller

  • 17.1.1, 17.1.0, 17.0.0, 16.1.4, 16.1.3, 16.1.2, 16.1.1, 16.0.1, 16.0.0, 15.1.10, 15.1.9, 15.1.8, 15.1.7, 15.1.6, 15.1.5, 15.1.3, 15.1.2, 15.1.1, 15.1.0, 15.0.1, 15.0.0, 14.1.5, 14.1.4, 14.1.3, 14.1.2, 14.1.0, 14.0.1, 14.0.0, 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0, 12.1.6, 12.1.5, 12.1.4, 12.1.3, 12.1.2, 12.1.1, 12.1.0, 11.6.5, 11.6.4, 11.6.3, 11.6.2, 11.6.1
Manual Chapter

Monitors Settings Reference

Health monitor functional categories

The following tables describe the functional categories of health monitors, and list the available BIG-IP® monitors within each category. Unless otherwise specified, each monitor is used by Local Traffic Manager™, Global Traffic Manager™, and Link Controller™.

Address-check monitors

An address-check monitor is a simple monitor that pings an IP address to verify that the address can be reached on a network.

Address-check monitor Description
Gateway ICMP Uses Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to make a simple resource check. The check is successful if the monitor receives a response to an ICMP_ECHO datagram.
ICMP Makes a simple node check. The check is successful if the monitor receives a response to an ICMP_ECHO datagram.
TCP Echo Verifies Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections. The check is successful if the BIG-IP system receives a response to a TCP Echo message.

Service-check monitors

A service-check monitor determines whether a service is available by opening a connection to an IP address and port.

Service-check monitor Description
Diameter Monitors servers running the Diameter authentication service. After configuring a Diameter monitor, associate the monitor with a load balancing pool. The BIG-IP system then attempts to establish a TCP connection with a server in the pool. After successfully establishing a connection, the Diameter monitor sends a Capabilities-Exchanging-Request (CER) message to the server. The monitor then waits to receive a Capabilities-Exchanging-Answer (CEA) message, as well as a result code of DIAMETER_SUCCESS (2001).
FirePass Checks the health of FirePass® systems.
Inband Performs passive monitoring as part of client requests. This monitor, when acting as a client, attempts to connect to a pool member. If the pool member does not respond to a connection request after a user-specified number of tries within a user-specified period, the monitor marks the pool member as down. After the monitor has marked the pool member as down, and after a user-specified period has passed, the monitor again tries to connect to the pool member (if so configured).
NNTP Checks the status of Usenet News traffic. The check is successful if the monitor retrieves a newsgroup identification line from the server. An NNTP monitor requires a newsgroup name (for example, alt.cars.mercedes) and, if necessary, a user name and password.
MSSQL Performs service checks on Microsoft® SQL Server-based services such as Microsoft® SQL Server versions 6.5 and 7.0.
MySQL Checks the status of a MySQL™ database server. The check is successful if the monitor is able to connect to the server, log in as the indicated user, and log out.
Oracle Checks the status of an Oracle® database server. The check is successful if the monitor is able to connect to the server, log in as the indicated user, and log out.
POP3 Checks the status of Post Office Protocol (POP) traffic. The check is successful if the monitor is able to connect to the server, log in as the indicated user, and log out. A POP3 monitor requires a user name and password.
PostgreSQL Checks the status of a PostgreSQL database server. The check is successful if the monitor is able to connect to the server, log in as the indicated user, and log out.
RADIUS Checks the status of Remote Access Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) servers. The check is successful if the server authenticates the requesting user. A RADIUS monitor requires a user name, a password, and a shared secret string for the code number.
RADIUS Accounting Checks the status of Remote Access Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) accounting servers. A RADIUS Accounting monitor requires a user name and a shared secret string for the code number.
RPC Checks the availability of specific programs that reside on a remote procedure call (RPC) server. This monitor uses the rpcinfo command to query the RPC server and verify the availability of a given program.
SASP Verifies the availability of a IBM® Group Workload Manager. This monitor uses the Server/Application State Protocol (SASP) to communicate with the Group Workload Manager. The monitor queries the Group Workload Manager for information on the current weights of each managed resource. These weights determine which resource currently provides the best response time. When the monitor receives this information from the Group Workload Manager (GWM), it configures the dynamic ratio option for the resources, allowing the BIG-IP system to select the most appropriate resource to respond to a connection request.
Note: When you assign an SASP monitor, the monitor initially marks the resources as down. This change in status occurs because the GWM might not yet have information pertaining to its resources. As soon as the monitor receives the results of its query, it changes the status as needed. In most configurations, the monitor receives these results within a few seconds.
SIP Checks the status of SIP Call-ID services. By default, this monitor type issues an SIP OPTIONS request to a server device. However, you can use alternative protocols instead: TCP, UDP, TLS, and SIPS (that is, Secure SIP).
SMB Verifies the availability of a Server Message Block/Common Internet File System (SMB/CIFS) server. Use this monitor to check the availability of the server as a whole, the availability of a specific service on the server, or the availability of a specific file used by a service.
SOAP Tests a web service based on the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). The monitor submits a request to a SOAP-based web service, and optionally, verifies a return value or fault.
TCP Half Open Monitors the associated service by sending a TCP SYN packet to the service. As soon as the monitor receives the SYN-ACK packet, the monitor marks the service as up.
UDP Verifies the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) service by attempting to send UDP packets to a pool, pool member, or virtual server and receiving a reply.

Content-check monitors

A content-check monitor sends a command to a server and examines that server's response to ensure that it is serving appropriate content.

Content-check monitor Description
HTTP Checks the status of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic. Like a TCP monitor, an HTTP monitor attempts to receive specific content from a web page, and unlike a TCP monitor, might send a user name and password.
HTTPS Checks the status of Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) traffic. An HTTPS monitor attempts to receive specific content from a web page protected by SSL security. The check is successful when the content matches the Receive String value.
https_443 Checks the status of Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) traffic, by using port 443.
LDAP Checks the status of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) servers. A check is successful if entries are returned for the base and filter specified. An LDAP monitor requires a user name, a password, and base and filter strings.
Scripted Generates a simple script that reads a file that you create. The file contains send and expect strings to specify lines that you want to send or that you expect to receive.
SMTP Checks the status of Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP) servers. This monitor type checks only that the server is up and responding to commands. The check is successful if the mail server responds to the standard SMTP HELO and QUIT commands.
TCP Verifies the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) service by attempting to receive specific content from a resource. The check is successful when the content matches the Receive String value.
WAP Monitors Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) servers. The common usage for the WAP monitor is to specify the Send String and Receive String settings only. The WAP monitor functions by requesting a URL and finding the string in the Receive String setting in the data returned by the URL response.

Path-check monitors

A path-check monitor determines whether traffic can flow through a given device to an arbitrary endpoint. The monitor sends a packet through the network device, or to a remote server, to verify that the traffic can actually pass through the network device, and not just to the device.

Path-check monitor Description
Gateway ICMP Uses Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to make a simple resource check. The check is successful if the monitor receives a response to an ICMP_ECHO datagram.
ICMP Makes a simple node check. The check is successful if the monitor receives a response to an ICMP_ECHO datagram.
TCP Echo Verifies Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections. The check is successful if the BIG-IP system receives a response to a TCP Echo message.

Application-check monitors

An application-check monitor is typically a custom monitor or external monitor that tests a specific application. For example, an FTP monitor connects, logs in by using a user ID and password, changes to a specified directory, and requests a specific file. This monitor succeeds when the file is received.

Application-check monitor Description
BIG-IP Gathers metrics and statistics information that the Local Traffic Manager acquires through the monitoring of its own resources. Typically, it is sufficient to assign only the BIG-IP monitor to a Local Traffic Manager. When you want to verify the availability of a specific resource managed by the Local Traffic Manager, F5 Networks recommends that you first assign the appropriate monitor to the resource through the Local Traffic Manager, and then assign a BIG-IP monitor to the Local Traffic Manager through the Global Traffic Manager. This configuration provides the most efficient means of tracking resources managed by a BIG-IP system.
BIG-IP Link Gathers metrics and statistics information that the Link Controller™ acquires through the monitoring of its own resources. When you use the Global Traffic Manager in a network that contains a Link Controller, you must assign a BIG-IP Link monitor to the Link Controller. This monitor is automatically assigned to the Link Controller if you do not manually assign it.
External Enables you to create your own monitor type.
FTP Attempts to download a specified file to the /var/tmp directory, and if the file is retrieved, the check is successful. Note that once the file has been successfully downloaded, the BIG-IP system does not save it.
IMAP Checks the status of Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) traffic. An IMAP monitor is essentially a POP3 type of monitor with the addition of the Folder setting. The check is successful if the monitor is able to log into a server and open the specified mail folder.
Module Score Enables global and local traffic management systems to load balance in a proportional manner to local traffic management virtual servers associated with the BIG-IP® Application Acceleration Manager and Application Security Manager™. When you configure a Module Score monitor, the local traffic management system uses SNMP to pull the gtm_score values from the downstream virtual servers and set the dynamic ratios on the associated upstream local traffic management pool members or nodes.

The Module Score monitor retrieves the gtm_score values from the virtual server and the gtm_vs_score values associated with the virtual server. Then, if a pool name is not specified, this monitor sets the dynamic ratio on the node that is associated with the virtual server.

The BIG-IP system uses the lowest non-zero value of the gtm_vs_score values to set the dynamic ratio. If all gtm_vs_score values are zero, then the gtm_score value is used to set the dynamic ratios. If you specify a pool name in the monitor definition, then the dynamic ratio is set on the pool member.

Virtual Location Optimizes end-user response time in environments with dynamic distribution of application resources across multiple data centers. When using the Virtual Location monitor, the BIG-IP sets the Priority Group value of all local pool members to 2 (a higher priority). When a member of a load balancing pool migrates to a remote data center the Virtual Location monitor lowers the members Priority Group value to 1 (a lower priority). This value adjustment results in subsequent connections being sent to local pool members only if available. If no local pool members are available, connections are sent to the remote pool member.

Performance monitor functional category

This information describes the functional category of performance monitors, and lists the available BIG-IP® monitors. Unless otherwise specified, each type is used by Local Traffic Manager™, Global Traffic Manager™, and Link Controller™.

Performance monitors

A performance monitor interacts with the server (as opposed to virtual server) to examine the server load and to acquire information about the condition of virtual servers.

Performance monitor Description
BIG-IP Collects data from Global Traffic Manager and Local Traffic Manager. Typically, the Local Traffic Manager probes local pool members and provides the results to Global Traffic Manager.
Note: When the BIG-IP monitor fails, all virtual servers for that Local Traffic Manager system are marked unavailable, regardless of the results of individual virtual server probes.
BIG-IP Link Gathers metrics and statistics information acquired through the monitoring of Global Traffic Manager or Link Controller resources.
SNMP Checks the performance of a server that runs an SNMP agent to load balance to that server. A custom snmp_gtm import setting is assigned to servers that are not developed by F5 Networks.
SNMP DCA Checks the performance of a server running an SNMP agent such as UC Davis, for the purpose of load balancing traffic to that server. With this monitor you can define ratio weights for CPU, memory, and disk use.
SNMP DCA Base Checks the performance of servers that are running an SNMP agent, such as UC Davis. However, you should use this monitor only when you want the load balancing destination to be based solely on user data, and not CPU, memory, or disk use.
Real Server Checks the performance of a node that is running the RealSystem Server data collection agent. The monitor then dynamically load balances traffic accordingly.
WMI Checks the performance of a node that is running the Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI) data collection agent, and then dynamically load balances traffic accordingly. Generally, you would use a WMI monitor with dynamic ratio load balancing.
Note: When using the GetWinMediaInfo command with a WMI monitor, Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003 and Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 require the applicable version of Windows Media® Services to be installed on each server.

BIG-IP monitor settings

This table describes the BIG-IP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 90 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 90 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Aggregate Dynamic Ratios None Specifies how the system combines the module values to create the proportion (score) for the load balancing operation. The score represents the module's estimated capacity for handing traffic. Averaged values are appropriate for downstream Web Accelerator or Application Security Manager virtual servers. The default is None, meaning that the system does not use the scores in the load balancing operation.

BIG-IP Link monitor settings

This table describes the BIG-IP Link monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 30 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 30 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

External monitor settings

This table describes the External monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
External Program No default Specifies the name of the file for the monitor to use. In order to reference a file, you must first import it using options on the System > File Management > External Monitor Program File List > Import screen. The BIG-IP system automatically places the file in the proper location on the file system.
Arguments No default Specifies any command-line arguments that the script requires.
Variables No default Specifies any variables that the script requires.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

FirePass monitor settings

This table describes the FirePass monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 90 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 90 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Cipher List HIGH:!ADH Specifies the list of ciphers for this monitor. The default list is HIGH:!ADH.
Max Load Average 12.0 Specifies the number that the monitor uses to mark the FirePass system up or down. The system compares the Max Load Average setting against a one-minute average of the FirePass system load. When the FirePass system-load average falls within the specified Max Load Average, the monitor marks the FirePass system up. When the average exceeds the setting, the monitor marks the system down. The default is 12.0.
Concurrency Limit 95 Specifies the maximum percentage of licensed connections currently in use under which the monitor marks the Secure Access Manager system up. As an example, a setting of 95 percent means that the monitor marks the FirePass system up until 95 percent of licensed connections are in use. When the number of in-use licensed connections exceeds 95 percent, the monitor marks the FirePass system down The default is 95.
User Name gtmuser Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the Username and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

FTP monitor settings

This table describes the FTP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Path/Filename No default Specifies the full path and file name of the file that the system attempts to download. The health check is successful if the system can download the file.
Mode Passive
  • Passive. Specifies the data transfer process (DTP) mode. The default is Passive.
  • Port. Specifies that the monitor initiates and establishes the data connection with the FTP server.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

Gateway ICMP monitor settings

This table describes the Gateway ICMP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Interval 1 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system probes the host server. The default is 1 second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Probe Attempts 3 Specifies the number of times that the system attempts to probe the host server, after which the system considers the host server down or unavailable. The default value is 3.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Adaptive Disabled Specifies whether adaptive response time monitoring is enabled for this monitor.
Enabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings, and the divergence from the mean latency of a monitor probe for that service. You can set values for the Allowed Divergence, Adaptive Limit, and Sampling Timespan monitor settings.
Disabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings.
Allowed Divergence Relative, 25% Specifies the type of divergence used when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected). In typical cases, if the monitor detects three consecutive probes that miss the latency value you set, the system marks the pool member or node as down. There are two options:
Absolute
The number of milliseconds the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency for the service being probed.
Relative
The percentage of deviation the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe for the service being probed.
Adaptive Limit 200 milliseconds Specifies the maximum number of milliseconds that the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe, for the service being probed. This value applies regardless of the Allowed Divergence setting value. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 500, the monitor probe latency cannot exceed 500 milliseconds, even if that value is below the value of the Allowed Divergence setting.
Sampling Timespan 300 seconds (5 minutes) Specifies the length, in seconds, of the probe history window that the system uses to calculate the mean latency and standard deviation of a monitor probe. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 300 seconds (that is five minutes), then the BIG-IP system uses the last five minutes of probe history to determine the mean latency and standard deviation of a probe.

HTTP monitor settings

This table describes the HTTP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String GET / Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object. You must include \r\n at the end of a non-empty send string. The default setting is GET /\r\n, which retrieves a default HTML file for a web site. To retrieve a specific page from a web site, specify a fully-qualified path name, for example: GET /www/siterequest/index.html\r\n.
Important: When you create a new TCP, HTTP, or HTTPS monitor in version 10.2.0 and later, you must include a return and new-line entry (\r\n) at the end of a non-empty send string, for example GET /\r\n instead of GET /. If you do not include \r\n at the end of the send string, the TCP, HTTP, or HTTPS monitor fails. When you include a host in a send string, you must duplicate the return and new-line entries (\r\n\r\n), for example, "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server.com\r\n\r\n" or "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server.com\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n".
Receive String No default Specifies the regular expression representing the text string that the monitor looks for in the returned resource. The most common receive expressions contain a text string that is included in an HTML file on your site. The text string can be regular text, HTML tags, or image names, and the associated operation is not case-sensitive. The only monitors that support regular expression matching are HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP monitors.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Reverse No Instructs the system to mark the target resource down when the test is successful. This setting is useful, for example, if the content on your web site home page is dynamic and changes frequently, you might want to set up a reverse ECV service check that looks for the string Error. A match for this string means that the web server was down. You can use Reverse only if you configure both Send String and Receive String.
Transparent No Specifies whether the monitor operates in transparent mode. A monitor in transparent mode uses a path through the associated pool members or nodes to monitor the aliased destination (that is, it monitors the Alias Address-Alias Service Port combination specified in the monitor). The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Adaptive Disabled Specifies whether adaptive response time monitoring is enabled for this monitor.
Enabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings, and the divergence from the mean latency of a monitor probe for that service. You can set values for the Allowed Divergence, Adaptive Limit, and Sampling Timespan monitor settings.
Disabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings.
Allowed Divergence Relative, 25% Specifies the type of divergence used when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected). In typical cases, if the monitor detects three consecutive probes that miss the latency value you set, the system marks the pool member or node as down. There are two options:
Absolute
The number of milliseconds the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency for the service being probed.
Relative
The percentage of deviation the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe for the service being probed.
Adaptive Limit 200 milliseconds Specifies the maximum number of milliseconds that the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe, for the service being probed. This value applies regardless of the Allowed Divergence setting value. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 500, the monitor probe latency cannot exceed 500 milliseconds, even if that value is below the value of the Allowed Divergence setting.
Sampling Timespan 300 seconds (5 minutes) Specifies the length, in seconds, of the probe history window that the system uses to calculate the mean latency and standard deviation of a monitor probe. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 300 seconds (that is five minutes), then the BIG-IP system uses the last five minutes of probe history to determine the mean latency and standard deviation of a probe.

HTTPS monitor settings

This table describes the HTTPS monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String GET / Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object. You must include \r\n at the end of a non-empty send string. The default setting is GET /\r\n, which retrieves a default HTML file for a web site. To retrieve a specific page from a web site, specify a fully-qualified path name, for example: GET /www/siterequest/index.html\r\n.
Important: When you create a new TCP, HTTP, or HTTPS monitor in version 10.2.0 and later, you must include a return and new-line entry (\r\n) at the end of a non-empty send string, for example GET /\r\n instead of GET /. If you do not include \r\n at the end of the send string, the TCP, HTTP, or HTTPS monitor fails. When you include a host in a send string, you must duplicate the return and new-line entries (\r\n\r\n), for example, "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server.com\r\n\r\n" or "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: server.com\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n".
Receive String No default Specifies the regular expression representing the text string that the monitor looks for in the returned resource. The most common receive expressions contain a text string that is included in an HTML file on your site. The text string can be regular text, HTML tags, or image names, and the associated operation is not case-sensitive. The only monitors that support regular expression matching are HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP monitors.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
Cipher List DEFAULT:+SHA:+3DES:+kEDH Specifies the list of ciphers for this monitor. The default list is DEFAULT:+SHA:+3DES:+kEDH.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Compatibility Enabled Specifies, when enabled, that the SSL options setting (in OpenSSL) is set to ALL. The default is Enabled.
Client Certificate None For TLS and SIPS modes only, specifies a client certificate that the monitor sends to the target SSL server. The default is None.
Client Key None For TLS and SIPS modes only, specifies a key for a client certificate that the monitor sends to the target SSL server. The default is None.
Reverse No Instructs the system to mark the target resource down when the test is successful. This setting is useful, for example, if the content on your web site home page is dynamic and changes frequently, you might want to set up a reverse ECV service check that looks for the string Error. A match for this string means that the web server was down. You can use Reverse only if you configure both Send String and Receive String.
Transparent No Specifies whether the monitor operates in transparent mode. A monitor in transparent mode uses a path through the associated pool members or nodes to monitor the aliased destination (that is, it monitors the Alias Address-Alias Service Port combination specified in the monitor). The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Adaptive Disabled Specifies whether adaptive response time monitoring is enabled for this monitor.
Enabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings, and the divergence from the mean latency of a monitor probe for that service. You can set values for the Allowed Divergence, Adaptive Limit, and Sampling Timespan monitor settings.
Disabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings.
Allowed Divergence Relative, 25% Specifies the type of divergence used when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected). In typical cases, if the monitor detects three consecutive probes that miss the latency value you set, the system marks the pool member or node as down. There are two options:
Absolute
The number of milliseconds the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency for the service being probed.
Relative
The percentage of deviation the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe for the service being probed.
Adaptive Limit 200 milliseconds Specifies the maximum number of milliseconds that the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe, for the service being probed. This value applies regardless of the Allowed Divergence setting value. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 500, the monitor probe latency cannot exceed 500 milliseconds, even if that value is below the value of the Allowed Divergence setting.
Sampling Timespan 300 seconds (5 minutes) Specifies the length, in seconds, of the probe history window that the system uses to calculate the mean latency and standard deviation of a monitor probe. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 300 seconds (that is five minutes), then the BIG-IP system uses the last five minutes of probe history to determine the mean latency and standard deviation of a probe.

IMAP monitor settings

This table describes the IMAP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Folder INBOX Specifies the name of the folder on the IMAP server that the monitor tries to open.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

LDAP monitor settings

This table describes the LDAP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Base No default Specifies the location in the LDAP tree from which the monitor starts the health check. A sample value is: dc=bigip-test,dc=net
Filter No default Specifies an LDAP key for which the monitor searches. A sample value is: objectclass=*.
Security None Specifies the secure protocol type for communications with the target. The default is None.
Mandatory Attributes No Specifies whether the target must include attributes in its response to be considered up. The default is No.
Chase Referrals Yes Specifies whether, upon receipt of an LDAP referral entry, the target follows (or chases) that referral. The default is Yes.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

MSSQL monitor settings

This table describes the MSSQL monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 91 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 91 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String No default Specifies the SQL statement that the monitor runs on the target. A sample is: SELECT * FROM <db_name>. This is an optional setting. If you do not specify a send string, the monitor simply tries to establish a connection with the target. If the monitor is successful, the system marks the target up. If the system cannot establish the connection, then it marks the target down.
Receive String No default Specifies the response the monitor expects from the target, when the target receives the send string. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String setting.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Database No default Specifies the name of the database that the monitor tries to access, for example, sales or hr.
Receive Row No default Specifies the row in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Receive Column No default Specifies the column in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Count 0 Specifies how the system handles open connections for monitor instances. The default is 0 (zero). By default, when you assign instances of this monitor to a resource, the system keeps the connection to the database open. This functionality allows you to assign multiple instances to the database while reducing the overhead that multiple open connections could cause. The Count option allows you to determine the number of instances for which the system keeps a connection open.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

MySQL monitor settings

This table describes the MySQL monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Important: F5 Networks recommends that when you configure this option and the Up Interval option, whichever value is greater should be a multiple of the lesser value to allow for an even distribution of monitor checks among all monitors.
Time Until Up 0 Delays the marking of a pool member or node as up for the specified number of seconds after receiving the first correct response. When this attribute is set to 0 (the default value), the BIG-IP system marks the resource as up immediately after receiving the first correct response.
Timeout 91 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 91 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Manual Resume No Specifies whether the system automatically changes the status of a resource to Enabled at the next successful monitor check. The default is No.
Note: If you set this option to Yes, you must manually re-enable the resource before the system can use it for load balancing connections.
Send String No default Specifies the SQL statement that the monitor runs on the target. A sample is: SELECT * FROM <db_name>. This is an optional setting. If you do not specify a send string, the monitor simply tries to establish a connection with the target. If the monitor is successful, the system marks the target up. If the system cannot establish the connection, then it marks the target down.
Receive String No default Specifies the response the monitor expects from the target, when the target receives the send string. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String setting.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Database No default Specifies the name of the database that the monitor tries to access, for example, sales or hr.
Receive Row No default Specifies the row in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Receive Column No default Specifies the column in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Count 0 Specifies how the system handles open connections for monitor instances. The default is 0 (zero). By default, when you assign instances of this monitor to a resource, the system keeps the connection to the database open. This functionality allows you to assign multiple instances to the database while reducing the overhead that multiple open connections could cause. The Count option allows you to determine the number of instances for which the system keeps a connection open.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

NNTP monitor settings

This table describes the NNTP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Newsgroup No default Specifies the name of the newsgroup that you are monitoring, for example alt.car.mercedes.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

Oracle monitor settings

This table describes the Oracle monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Important: F5 Networks recommends that when you configure this option and the Up Interval option, whichever value is greater should be a multiple of the lesser value to allow for an even distribution of monitor checks among all monitors.
Timeout 91 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 91 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String No default Specifies the SQL statement that the monitor runs on the target. A sample is: SELECT * FROM <db_name>. This is an optional setting. If you do not specify a send string, the monitor simply tries to establish a connection with the target. If the monitor is successful, the system marks the target up. If the system cannot establish the connection, then it marks the target down.
Receive String No default Specifies the response the monitor expects from the target, when the target receives the send string. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String setting.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Database %node_ip%:%node_port%: Specifies the name of the database that the monitor tries to access, for example, sales or hr.
Receive Row No default Specifies the row in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Receive Column No default Specifies the column in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Count 0 Specifies how the system handles open connections for monitor instances. The default is 0 (zero). By default, when you assign instances of this monitor to a resource, the system keeps the connection to the database open. This functionality allows you to assign multiple instances to the database while reducing the overhead that multiple open connections could cause. The Count option allows you to determine the number of instances for which the system keeps a connection open.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

POP3 monitor settings

This table describes the POP3 monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

PostgreSQL monitor settings

This table describes the PostgreSQL monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 91 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 91 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String No default Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object.
Receive String No default Specifies the response the monitor expects from the target, when the target receives the send string. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String setting.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Database No default Specifies the name of the database that the monitor tries to access, for example, sales or hr.
Receive Row No default Specifies the row in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Receive Column No default Specifies the column in the database where the specified Receive String should be located. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String and the Receive String settings.
Count 0 Specifies how the system handles open connections for monitor instances. The default is 0 (zero). By default, when you assign instances of this monitor to a resource, the system keeps the connection to the database open. This functionality allows you to assign multiple instances to the database while reducing the overhead that multiple open connections could cause. The Count option allows you to determine the number of instances for which the system keeps a connection open.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

RADIUS monitor settings

This table describes the RADIUS monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Secret No default Specifies the secret the monitor needs to access the resource.
NAS IP Address No default Specifies the network access server’s IP address (NAS IP address) for a RADIUS monitor.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

RADIUS Accounting monitor settings

This table describes the RADIUS Accounting monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Secret No default Specifies the secret the monitor needs to access the resource.
NAS IP Address No default Specifies the network access server’s IP address (NAS IP address) for a RADIUS monitor.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

Real Server monitor settings

This table describes the Real Server monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Method GET Displays the method the monitor uses to contact the server. The setting is GET. You cannot modify the method.
Command GetServerStats Specifies the command that the system uses to obtain the metrics from the resource.
Metrics ServerBandwidth:1.5, CPUPercentUsage, MemoryUsage, TotalClientCount Specifies the performance metrics that the commands collect from the target. The default is ServerBandwidth:1.5, CPUPercentUsage, MemoryUsage, TotalClientCount.
Agent Mozilla/4.0 (compatible: MSIE 5.0; Windows NT) Displays the agent for the monitor. The default agent is Mozilla/4.0 (compatible: MSIE 5.0; Windows NT). You cannot modify the agent.

Scripted monitor settings

This table describes the Scripted monitor configuration settings and default values.

When using scripts for monitor settings, you will want to observe the following conditions.

  • Scripts must use hard-return line endings (LF), not soft-return line endings (CR-LF).
  • Exactly one character space must be used to separate the send or expect instruction keywords from the text to send or match.
  • The text to send or match extends to the end of the line, even when using quotation marks. Any characters that follow a closing quotation mark will break the match.
  • Matching text can match the prefix of a response, but cannot match a substring that is not a prefix, that is, a substring that starts other than at the beginning of the response.

Additionally, within scripts, the following escape sequences apply.

Name Escape Sequence
Bell \a
Backspace \b
Form feed \f
New line \n
Return \r
Tab \t
Vertical tab \v
Backslash \\
Single quotation mark \'

For example, the following script specifies a simple SMTP sequence. Note that the lines of the file are always read in the sequence specified.

expect 220
send "HELO bigip1.somecompany.net\r\n"
expect "250"
send "quit\r\n"
      
Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
File Name No default Specifies the name of a file in the /config/eav/ directory on the system. The user-created file contains the and data that the monitor uses for the monitor check.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

SIP monitor settings

This table describes the SIP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Mode UDP Specifies the protocol that the monitor uses to communicate with the target object. The default is UDP.
Client Certificate None For TLS and SIPS modes only, specifies a client certificate that the monitor sends to the target SSL server. The default is None.
Client Key None For TLS and SIPS modes only, specifies a key for a client certificate that the monitor sends to the target SSL server. The default is None.
Additional Accepted Status Codes None Specifies the additional SIP status codes that the monitor uses to determine target status. The default is None.
Note: The monitor always marks the target up in response to status code 200 OK.
Additional Rejected Status Codes Status Code List This list functions identically to the Additional Accepted Status Codes list, except that the monitor treats the list items as error codes, rather than success codes, and so marks the target down.
Header List No default Specifies one or more headers that the monitor recognizes.
SIP Request No default Type the request line of the SIP message, specifying a complete SIP request line minus the trailing \r\n characters. The system uses the response code to determine whether the server is up or down. The monitor performs a simple, customized query to a SIP server. The monitor does not establish connections, perform hand-shaking, or process SIP traffic or requests. It only sends a request to a server and looks at the response code and (aside from matching the response to the request) ignores the rest of the response. As a result, this monitor does not support requests such as INVITE, because the monitor does not enter into a dialog.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

SMTP monitor settings

This table describes the SMTP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Domain No default Specifies the domain name to check, for example, bigipinternal.com.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

SNMP monitor settings

This table describes the SNMP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 90 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 90 seconds.
Timeout 180 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 180 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Interval 1 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system probes the host server. The default is 1 second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Probe Attempts 3 Specifies the number of times that the system attempts to probe the host server, after which the system considers the host server down or unavailable. The default value is 3.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Community Public Specifies the community name that the system must use to authenticate with the host server through SNMP. The default value is public. Note that this value is case sensitive.
Version v1 Specifies the version of SNMP that the host server uses. The default is V1.
Port 161 Specifies the port number to which this monitor sends SNMP traps.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

SNMP Link monitor settings

This table describes the SNMP DCA Base monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 30 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 30 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down.
Probe Interval 1 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system probes the host server. The default is 1 second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Probe Attempts 3 Specifies the number of times that the system attempts to probe the host server, after which the system considers the host server down or unavailable. The default value is 3.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Community Public Specifies the community name that the system must use to authenticate with the host server through SNMP. The default value is public. Note that this value is case sensitive.
Version v1 Specifies the version of SNMP that the host server uses. The default is V1.
Port 161 Specifies the port number to which this monitor sends SNMP traps.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

SOAP monitor settings

This table describes the SOAP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Protocol HTTP Specifies the protocol that the monitor uses for communications with the target. The default is HTTP.
URL Path No default Specifies the URL for the web service that you are monitoring, for example, /services/myservice.aspx.
Namespace No default Specifies the name space for the web service you are monitoring, for example, http://example.com/.
Method No default Specified the method by which the monitor contacts the resource.
Parameter Name No default Specifies, if the method has parameters, the parameter name.
Parameter Type Bool Specifies the parameter type. The default is bool (boolean).
Parameter Value No default Specifies the value for the parameter.
Return Type Bool Specifies the type for the returned parameter. The default is bool (boolean).
Return Value No default Specifies the value for the returned parameter.
Expect Fault No Specifies whether the method causes the monitor to expect a SOAP fault message. The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

TCP monitor settings

This table describes the TCP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String No default Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object.
Receive String No default Specifies the regular expression representing the text string that the monitor looks for in the returned resource. The most common receive expressions contain a text string that is included in an HTML file on your site. The text string can be regular text, HTML tags, or image names, and the associated operation is not case-sensitive. The only monitors that support regular expression matching are HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP monitors.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
Reverse No Instructs the system to mark the target resource down when the test is successful. This setting is useful, for example, if the content on your web site home page is dynamic and changes frequently, you might want to set up a reverse ECV service check that looks for the string Error. A match for this string means that the web server was down. You can use Reverse only if you configure both Send String and Receive String.
Transparent No Specifies whether the monitor operates in transparent mode. A monitor in transparent mode uses a path through the associated pool members or nodes to monitor the aliased destination (that is, it monitors the Alias Address-Alias Service Port combination specified in the monitor). The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Adaptive Disabled Specifies whether adaptive response time monitoring is enabled for this monitor.
Enabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings, and the divergence from the mean latency of a monitor probe for that service. You can set values for the Allowed Divergence, Adaptive Limit, and Sampling Timespan monitor settings.
Disabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings.
Allowed Divergence Relative, 25% Specifies the type of divergence used when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected). In typical cases, if the monitor detects three consecutive probes that miss the latency value you set, the system marks the pool member or node as down. There are two options:
Absolute
The number of milliseconds the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency for the service being probed.
Relative
The percentage of deviation the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe for the service being probed.
Adaptive Limit 200 milliseconds Specifies the maximum number of milliseconds that the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe, for the service being probed. This value applies regardless of the Allowed Divergence setting value. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 500, the monitor probe latency cannot exceed 500 milliseconds, even if that value is below the value of the Allowed Divergence setting.
Sampling Timespan 300 seconds (5 minutes) Specifies the length, in seconds, of the probe history window that the system uses to calculate the mean latency and standard deviation of a monitor probe. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 300 seconds (that is five minutes), then the BIG-IP system uses the last five minutes of probe history to determine the mean latency and standard deviation of a probe.

TCP Half Open monitor settings

This table describes the TCP Half Open monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Interval 1 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system probes the host server. The default is 1 second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Probe Attempts 3 Specifies the number of times that the system attempts to probe the host server, after which the system considers the host server down or unavailable. The default value is 3.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Transparent No Specifies whether the monitor operates in transparent mode. A monitor in transparent mode uses a path through the associated pool members or nodes to monitor the aliased destination (that is, it monitors the Alias Address-Alias Service Port combination specified in the monitor). The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.

UDP monitor settings

This table describes the UDP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Interval 1 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system probes the host server. The default is 1 second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Probe Attempts 3 Specifies the number of times that the system attempts to probe the host server, after which the system considers the host server down or unavailable. The default value is 3.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Up Interval Disabled Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when the resource is up. The enabled default value is 0 (zero), which specifies that the system uses the value of the interval option whether the resource is up or down.
Important: F5 Networks recommends that when you configure this option and the Interval option, whichever value is greater should be a multiple of the lesser value to allow for an even distribution of monitor checks among all monitors.
Send String default send string Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object. The default is default send string.
Transparent No Specifies whether the monitor operates in transparent mode. A monitor in transparent mode uses a path through the associated pool members or nodes to monitor the aliased destination (that is, it monitors the Alias Address-Alias Service Port combination specified in the monitor). The default is No.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.
Adaptive Disabled Specifies whether adaptive response time monitoring is enabled for this monitor.
Enabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings, and the divergence from the mean latency of a monitor probe for that service. You can set values for the Allowed Divergence, Adaptive Limit, and Sampling Timespan monitor settings.
Disabled
The monitor determines the state of a service based on the Interval, Up Interval, Time Until Up, and Timeout monitor settings.
Allowed Divergence Relative, 25% Specifies the type of divergence used when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected). In typical cases, if the monitor detects three consecutive probes that miss the latency value you set, the system marks the pool member or node as down. There are two options:
Absolute
The number of milliseconds the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency for the service being probed.
Relative
The percentage of deviation the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe for the service being probed.
Adaptive Limit 200 milliseconds Specifies the maximum number of milliseconds that the latency of a monitor probe can exceed the mean latency of a monitor probe, for the service being probed. This value applies regardless of the Allowed Divergence setting value. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 500, the monitor probe latency cannot exceed 500 milliseconds, even if that value is below the value of the Allowed Divergence setting.
Sampling Timespan 300 seconds (5 minutes) Specifies the length, in seconds, of the probe history window that the system uses to calculate the mean latency and standard deviation of a monitor probe. For example, when the Adaptive setting is enabled (check box selected) with a value set to 300 seconds (that is five minutes), then the BIG-IP system uses the last five minutes of probe history to determine the mean latency and standard deviation of a probe.

WAP monitor settings

This table describes the WAP monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 10 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 10 seconds.
Timeout 31 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 31 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value, plus one second.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
Send String No default Specifies the text string that the monitor sends to the target object.
Receive String No default Specifies the response the monitor expects from the target, when the target receives the send string. This is an optional setting, and is applicable only if you configure the Send String setting.
Note: If you do not specify both a Send String and a Receive String, the monitor performs a simple service check and connect only.
Secret No default Specifies the secret the monitor needs to access the resource.
Accounting Node No default Specifies the RADIUS server that provides authentication for the WAP target. This setting is optional. Note that if you configure the Accounting Port, but you do not configure the Accounting Node, the system assumes that the RADIUS server and the WAP server are the same system.
Accounting Port No default Specifies the port that the monitor uses for RADIUS accounting. The default is 0, which disables RADIUS accounting.
Server ID No default Specifies the RADIUS NAS-ID for this system, in the RADIUS server's configuration.
Call ID No default Specifies the 11-digit phone number for the RADIUS server. This setting is optional.
Session ID No default Specifies the RADIUS session identification number. This setting is optional.
Framed Address No default Specifies the RADIUS framed IP address. This setting is optional.
Alias Address *All Addresses Specifies an alias IP address for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Addresses. If the health check for the alias address is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias address is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Alias Service Port *All Ports Specifies an alias port or service for the monitor to check, on behalf of the pools or pool members with which the monitor is associated. The default setting is *All Ports. If the health check for the alias port or service is successful, the system marks all associated objects up. If the health check for the alias port or service is not successful, then the system marks all associated objects down.
Debug No Specifies whether the monitor sends error messages and additional information to a log file created and labeled specifically for this monitor. The default setting is No, which specifies that the system does not redirect error messages and additional information related to this monitor. The Yes setting specifies that the system redirects error messages and additional information to the /var/log/<monitor_type>_<ip_address>.<port>.log file.

WMI monitor settings

This table describes the WMI monitor configuration settings and default values.

Setting Value Description
Name No default Provides a name for the monitor.
Description No default Provides a description of the monitor.
Type Selected monitor type Specifies the type of monitor you are creating.
Import Settings Selected predefined or user-defined monitor Specifies the selected predefined or user-defined monitor.
Interval 30 Specifies, in seconds, the frequency at which the system issues the monitor check when either the resource is down or the status of the resource is unknown. The default value is 30 seconds.
Timeout 120 Specifies the number of seconds in which the target must respond to the monitor request. The default is 120 seconds. If the target responds within the set time period, the target is considered to be up. If the target does not respond within the set time period, the target is considered to be down. The Timeout value should be three times the Interval value.
Probe Timeout 5 Specifies the number of seconds after which the system times out the probe request to the system. The default is 5 seconds.
Ignore Down Response No Specifies that the monitor allows more than one probe attempt per interval. The default is No.
User Name No default Specifies the user name, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Password No default Specifies the password, if the monitored target requires authentication.
Important: If there is no password security, you must use blank strings [""] for the User Name and Password settings.
Method POST Displays the method the monitor uses to contact the server. The setting is POST. You cannot modify the method.
URL /scripts/F5Isapi.dll Specifies the URL that the monitor uses. The default is /scripts/f5Isapi.dll.
Command GetCPUInfo, GetDiskInfo, GetOSInfo Specifies the command that the system uses to obtain the metrics from the resource. See the documentation for the resource for information on available commands. The default is GetCPUInfo, GetDiskInfo, GetOSInfo.
Note: When using the GetWinMediaInfo command with a WMI monitor, Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003 and Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 require the applicable version of Windows Media® Services to be installed on each server.
Metrics LoadPercentage, DiskUsage, PhysicalMemoryUsage:1.5, VirtualMemoryUsage:2.0 Specifies the performance metrics that the commands collect from the target. The default is LoadPercentage, DiskUsage, PhysicalMemoryUsage:1.5, VirtualMemoryUsage:2.0.
Agent Mozilla/4.0 (compatible: MSIE 5.0; Windows NT) Displays the agent for the monitor. The default agent is Mozilla/4.0 (compatible: MSIE 5.0; Windows NT). You cannot modify the agent.
Post RespFormat=HTML Displays the mechanism that the monitor uses for posting. The default is RespFormat=HTML. You cannot change the post format for WMI monitors.