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Advanced iRules

Published June 23, 2025 | Last modified May 22, 2026

Objective

This guide provides instructions on how to create an iRule leveraging many of the more advanced features.

Using the instructions provided in this document, you can create and explain an iRule with the F5 AI Assistant to help manage your network traffic and application security.

Create iRules

Create a New iRule

Step 1: Create a new iRule.

  • Log into the F5® Distributed Cloud Console.

  • Navigate to the BIG-IP Utilities workspace tile or menu.

Note: The homepage is role based, and your homepage may look different due to your role customization. Select All Workspaces drop-down menu to discover all options.

Figure: BIG-IP Utilities Tile

Figure: BIG-IP Utilities Tile

Figure: BIG-IP Utilities Menu

Figure: BIG-IP Utilities Menu

  • Select iRules.
Figure: iRules Menu

Figure: iRules Menu

  • Click Add iRule.
Figure: Add iRule

Figure: Add iRule

Step 2: Draft a new iRule.
  • Draft a new iRule in the code editor provided, which includes syntax highlighting and intellisense.
Figure: Intellisense

Figure: Intellisense

Step 3: Optionally, use the F5 AI Assistant to help create your iRule.
  • Click . . . and select Create with AI.
Figure: Create with AI

Figure: Create with AI

  • Prompt the AI Assistant to "Generate an iRule to..." and provide your application delivery and security requirements in natural language.
Figure: Generate prompt

Figure: Generate prompt

  • Copy over the generated iRule to the code editor.
Figure: Generated iRule

Figure: Generated iRule

Step 4: Save your iRule.
  • Click . . . and select Save iRule.
Figure: Save iRule

Figure: Save iRule

  • Name your newly created iRule.

  • Optionally, add a description for your iRule.

  • Click Save iRule.

Figure: Name and Save iRule

Figure: Name and Save iRule

Explain iRules

Explain an Existing iRule

Step 1: Explain an existing iRule.
  • Click . . . under the Action column of an existing iRule and select Explain with AI.
Figure: Explain with AI

Figure: Explain with AI

  • A summary of the iRule and its components will be shown in the AI Assistant.
Figure: iRule Explanation

Figure: iRule Explanation

Step 2: Explanation directly in the AI Assistant.
  • Users can also input iRule code into the AI Assistant for explanation by prompting "Explain insert iRule Code".
Figure: iRule Explanation Prompt

Figure: iRule Explanation Prompt

API References

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