What is OneConnect in F5?

--> One Connect feature is also known as Connection Pooling.

--> The One Connect feature of F5 LTM reduces server side connections by re-using previously established connections from connection Reuse pool for next client requests.

--> The One Connect feature of F5 LTM increases server network connection efficiency by keeping server-side connections open and reusing them for new client connections.

--> F5 LTM uses HTTP 1.1 keep alive feature to implement One Connect.

--> When you are communicating with a server via an F5 device there are actually two connections.

--> one is between the client and the F5 LTM and one is between the F5 LTM and the server in the pool.

--> The client starts a connection to a F5 virtual server IP address( F5 is acting as Server).

--> Next the F5 starts a new connection on behalf of the client with the server in pool (Here F5 is acting as Client).

--> Let's assume, client IP 1.1.1.1 is initiating a connection to the virtual server 150.0.0.100 which then gets load balanced to the server 10.10.10.10. 

--> Within the TCP connection, the client will utilize multiple HTTP Requests to obtain the right content from the server (HTTP 1.1 Keepalive).



--> After the transaction has been completed, the client closes the client side connection (Client – F5). However, the F5 retains the server side connection (F5-Server).

--> If a new client (1.1.1.2) initiates a connection within a certain timeout interval, the F5 will re-use the server side connection that was retained for the 1.1.1.1 connection.

--> As you can see, the server side connection that was created when 1.1.1.1 made the initial request was reused when the new client 1.1.1.2 made the request.

-->  From the server’s perspective, HTTP Requests initiated by 1.1.1.2 is still assumed to be over the connection initiated by 1.1.1.1 i.e., the client IP at the server level no longer provides the right information about the true client IP.

--> In the above example, 3 client side connections were served by F5 LTM using 2 server side connection. 

Recommendations:

--> F5 recommends that you apply an HTTP profile to the virtual server when using One connect Profile.

--> It is not recommended to implement One Connect profile for non-HTTP virtual servers such as FTP or RTSP.

--> It is not recommended to implement One Connect profile for encrypted traffic that is passed through the virtual server to the destination resources in the encrypted state and is not terminated at the BIG-IP system.

Ref: F5.com

Md.Kareemoddin

CCIE # 54759

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