F5 ARX-2000, Hardware Installation Manual

Page: 32 / 80

Chapter 3
Connecting the Switch to the Network
3 - 4
Booting the Switch
The initial-boot script runs automatically at switch startup. It prompts for
basic configuration and security information required to access the switch
and manage it remotely.
At the console terminal, boot the switch as follows:
1. Power-on the switch (as shown in Attaching the Cables and
Powering On the Switch, on page 2-5 ). After some boot-up
messages that may take several minutes, the following prompt
appears:
Press <Enter> to start the Switch Configuration Wizard.
2. Press the Enter key as prompted.
The initial-boot script is comprised of questions that prompt you for basic
network information (such as management-IP address, subnet mask, and
gateway). The script will also prompt you to enter the base registration key
and a DNS name server IP address needed to access the license activation
server.
If you have any questions about license activation, consult the ASKF5
Knowledge Base solution on that subject. Launch a browser and enter:
http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions
On the AskF5 Knowledge Base page, enter the keyword sol12800 and click
Search .
Booting a Non-Replacement Switch
The following example shows the simplest initial-boot scenario: booting a
new (non-replacement) switch that is either standalone or the
first member
of a redundant pair.
The answers in the example are not appropriate to the following scenarios:
• Replacing a defunct switch
• Joining a running switch as its redundant peer
• Re-installing a switch after F5 personnel performed a Manufacturing
Installation on a previously-running switch (which returns a switch to its
factory defaults)
Later sections discuss these contingencies and how to handle each of them.
The answers below apply to the simplest case only — booting a new
(non-replacement) switch that is either standalone or the
first member of a
redundant pair.
Answers are highlighted in bold text.
F5 ARX Startup
This F5 ARX switch does not currently have critical system