F5 Networks 302 Exam Syllabus

1.01 Identify customer requirements, constraints, and challenges related to DNS
• Recognize the functionality and limitations of the DNS protocol (e.g., hierarchy, roles)
• Determine relevant information to gather regarding a customer's need for high availability,
security, and management

1.02 Evaluate existing DNS environment for BIG-IP DNS solutions
• Ascertain specific scope and scale of DNS requirements
• Recognize limitations imposed by the existing DNS service provider
• Identify change control procedure related the integration of BIG-IP DNS into an existing
environment

1.03 Determine appropriate deployment and integration strategy for a BIG-IP DNS solution
• Given a customer environment, requirements, and constraints, select an appropriate
deployment model
• Given a customer environment, requirements, and constraints, recognize the use case for DNS
Express, Zone Runner, DNS 64, DNSSEC, DNS Cache, various load balancing algorithms,
persistence, and/or health monitor

1.04 Determine performance requirements for a BIG-IP DNS solution
• Relate the performance characteristics of virtual edition and physical hardware to a specific
use case
• Employ topology load balancing to optimize user experience
• Predict the performance implications pertaining to key DNS features (e.g., DNSSEC, topology
LB)

2.01 Identify configuration options for TMOS and sync groups
• Create the proper self-IP configuration, routes, and settings for iQuery communications
• Ensure proper NTP operation of all sync group members
• Create logging profiles for DNS request and/or response

2.02 Identify configure options for GSLB
• Differentiate between, and determine when to use, the two tiers of GSLB pool selection and the
three tiers of virtual server selection
• Recognize the functionality of various load balancing methods (e.g., static, dynamic, and
fallback)
• Recognize topology load balancing configuration parameters

2.03 Identify configuration options for non-GSLB DNS components
• Determine the listener IP and protocol
• Configure DNS Express and DNS Cache

2.04 Identify the necessary network environment for GSLB operations
• Recognize the significance of source and destination ports for communication between BIG-IP
DNS devices
• Identify missing/non-functional network configurations when enabling GSLB operation (e.g.,
iQuery, generic host probing)

3.01 Determine when and how to employ the appropriate network and DNS
troubleshooting tools
• Use openssl to review trusted cert information
• Use tcpdump to capture and analyze DNS and iQuery traffic on appropriate VLAN and IP
• Use dig/nslookup to verify DNS configuration and operation

3.02 Diagnose BIG-IP DNS issues
• Investigate root cause for virtual server flapping issue
• Analyze DNS request/response pattern to confirm BIG-IP DNS configuration, health monitor an
iQuery operation

3.03 Analyze system log data and statistics for problem analysis
• Verify the status of pools based on relevant log entries
• Analyze statistical data to pinpoint any issues regarding query response times
• Analyze appropriate log for proper zone transfer operation

3.04 Address DNS-related issues based on troubleshooting and log analysis
• Apply config change (e.g., monitor or prober) to remedy flapping of server objects
• Address proper IP address choice(s) for iQuery communication between devices

4.01 Identify process to perform BIG-IP DNS configuration backup
• Perform the steps in the GUI to create system archive files
• Issue TMSH commands to create system archive files.
• Verify file creation and move to remote storage

4.02 Identify the prerequisites and procedure for BIG-IP DNS configuration restoration
• Recognize the special requirements for restoring configuration data to a BIG-IP DNS RMA unit
• Compare configuration objects between a new BIG-IP DNS and existing sync group member
• Determine when and how to restore the master encryption keys for TSIG and DNSSEC

4.03 Identify various BIG-IP DNS monitoring strategies
• Configure SNMP polling
• Describe and use DNS statistics and DNS analytics

4.04 Recognize appropriate procedures for performing BIG-IP DNS software upgrades
• Recognize the significance of the requirement for license reactivation prior to upgrade
• Given a GSLB configuration, predict the potential end-user impact when upgrading a DNS sync
group member while it is offline
• Validate BIG-IP DNS operation status, post-upgrade

https://education.f5.com/certification/big-ip-dns-specialist-302