Getting Started with Console
Objective
This guide provides instructions on how to get started with the F5® Distributed Cloud Console (Console) and setup user preferences based on the various work domain options available. The Console provides a customized view of services that you will be using based on your work domains selection during the onboarding process. You can also update the settings at any point of time based on your requirements.
Using this guide, you can learn how to setup preferences while getting started, navigate the Console, access various services, and update the preferences at any point of time.
Note: This guide assumes that you have administrator role and provides instructions accordingly. All services are visible for all roles. Access to services is defined based on the user roles. For information on various roles, see Roles.
Prerequisites
SaaS account in Console is required.
Note: If you do not have an account, see Create SaaS Account.
Console and Services
The Console is a portal that acts as frontend to the SaaS services and offers various configurable objects grouped into a number of services. Using the Console, you can manage all configurations such as software, infrastructure, applications, users, etc. You can choose which services to expose in the Console user interface during the initial log in by selecting your work domains.
Although the user interface presents various services, every configurable object is supported with the fundamental isolation of a tenant and then has further isolation in terms of namespaces. For more information, see Core Concepts.
Initial Login and Setup
The following video tutorial shows how to perform the initial setup and shows how to navigate between various views:
Step 1: Log into Console and accept the terms and conditions.
- Go to the Console portal. Enter your tenant name when asked.
- Enter your SaaS account credentials. In case of first time login, accept the terms and conditions and click to proceed.
Note: Depending on the tenant setup, you may require to login using SSO credentials. In case your role is insufficient, system automatically sends a request to your admin to grant you access. In addition, you can resend the request using the
Resend Access Request
option on the home page. The home page displays services after the access is granted.
Step 2: Choose your work domains.
- In the next screen, select your work domains. Work domains are mappings of the functions that you perform and they are tied to corresponding services. You can also select
Super User
to define that you are super user.
Figure: Choose the Work Domains
- Click
Next
.
Step 3: Choose your skill level.
Select whether you are Intermediate User
or Advanced User
and click Next
.
Figure: Choose the Skill Levels
Note: Intermediate users do not have access to advanced features within the services. This can be changed at any point of time within the service pages or in user account settings.
Step 4: View the various services on the Home page.
- At this point, the Console Home page loads with
Common Services
populated. The services are presented as tiles and reflect the work domains and skill levels you selected in the previous steps.
Figure: Home Page Common Services
- Beneath the common services, a collapsible panel named
All Services
is placed. Click on the panel to view all the available services. - Beneath the all services drop-down, located are SaaS configuration tutorials you can go through to learn more about the Console and how to create different solutions.
Figure: All Services and Tutorials
Navigate the Console and Update Preferences
Use the following steps to explore and navigate through the various services in the Console:
Step 1: View catalog page to review services available to you.
- From the
Home
page, click onView Catalog
to the right of theCommon services
title.
Figure: View the Catalog from the Home Page
- The
Catalog
page allows you to see the services you are subscribed to and explore other services available to you.
Use Cases
Figure: View the Catalog Use Cases
-
The
Use Cases
section in the primary navigation pane shows the services that are associated with a specific use case. -
The use case page area shows a scrolling list of service blocks that are applicable to that use case.
-
Each service block explains the overall purpose of the service and a list of services that are required or optional for for that service. Those that are part of the minimum required set of services.
-
Each service listed also show if you're
Subscribed
to the service or if it'sAvailable
to you. -
You can learn more about a service by clicking
Explore
for that service.
Workspaces
Figure: View the Catalog Workspaces
-
The
Workspaces
section shows the services that are associated with a specific workspace. -
The workspace page area displays the selected workspace block that shows the overall purpose of the workspace and a list of services that are required or optional for for that service. Those that are part of the minimum required set of services.
Services
Figure: View All Services
-
The
Services
section shows a list of all services. -
For each service in the list you'll see a short description, a link to the technical documentation for that service, whether you are subscribed or not, and the ability to explore the service.
System Management
Figure: View System Management Options
-
The
System Management
section shows all management workspaces that are available to you. -
Each block in the list provides an overview fo the purpose and provides a link to the workspace.
Step 2: Navigate to a service.
You can navigate to a service in any one of the following ways:
-
From the
Home
page, click on the service from theCommon Services
tiles if that service is visible in the common services.Figure: Select Service on the Home Page
-
Click on the
All Services
collapsible and select your service from the available list of services.Figure: All Services on the Home Page
-
Use the search option located on the top of the home page and enter search text. Select one of the results from the dropdown.
Figure: Search on the Home Page
-
From within a service page, click the
Select service
drop-down located on the top left side of the service page.Figure: Select Service from Service Page
-
You can either select a service from the displayed list or search for it using the
Quick search
option. Search is automatically focused, and you can start typing right after you open the drop-down.Figure: Quick Search Option for a Service
Step 3: View the common functions for all service.
Every service page has the following 3 areas:
-
Navigation blocks, located in the primary navigation pane on the left-side of the service page. Each block contains page links and groups related page links together. You can click on a block to expand or collapse it, and when you hover your pointer over a page group, it will display the pages under that group. Below the navigation blocks, if the service contains advanced option links, you will find an option to
Hide
orShow
the Advanced navigation options. This selection is applied at the account level, meaning that if you enable it, access to advanced pages will be enabled in all service pages. Similarly, if you disable it, access to advanced pages will be disabled in all service pages.Figure: Hide or Show Advanced Navigation Options
-
Page area on the right side displaying the page content/configuration object. This area contains options to work with presented data or a configuration if the page is a configuration page. If the page is a monitoring page, it displays the dashboards or associated tabs. Each page area contains one or more of the following common options:
- Search input field with which you can search for a specific object on that page.
- Refresh option to refresh the page and content in it.
- If page contains a table, a settings option to select or deselect the fields you want to view. It shows all fields in the
All
tab by default so that you can select the fields you want to display. Accordingly, properties of each created object are displayed in different columns. You can also use the search option within the settings to search for a field. Use theRestore Defaults
option to display the default set of fields and reset all other table customizations made (column order, size, etc.). Use theSelected
tab to view and verify the selected fields.
Figure: Page Settings
-
Top area above the configuration page is a secondary navigation and it shows the navigation path in breadcrumbs. This area also contains the following general options located on the left side:
-
Support - Click on the support option to view the drop-down displaying various support options and resources. For more information on how to use support, see Support.
Figure: Support Menu
-
Account - Click on the account option to view the drop-down displaying information about your profile, plan, work domains, and skill levels. The account also includes
Account Settings
andLog out
options.Figure: Account Options
-
Note: From any page, you can navigate to home page using the
Home
option located on the breadcrumbs located on the top area. In addition, theSelect service
drop-down located on the top left side of the service page also includes theHome
andSupport
options. Clicking on the logo located on the top left of the service page also takes to home page.
Step 4: Update your preferences.
You can update preferences such as services to be included in common services on the home page. Do the following to update preferences at any time.
-
Click on the account option located on the top right (next to the support option) on any page. This displays your account information, option to update settings, and option to log out.
Figure: Account Options
-
Click on the
Account Settings
. This loads theMy Account
page located in thePersonal Management
section of theAdministration
service.
Note: You can also search for
My Account
using the search option in theSelect Service
drop-down or the search bar located on the home page.
- Click
Edit Work Domains & Skills
in theWork Domains and Skill Level
section.
Figure: Update Work Domains and Skill Level
- In the work domains and skills edit form, select or deselect the options as per your preference and click
Save changes
. The home page will show the updated services as per your preferences.
Reset Password for your Console Login
If you forgot your password or just want to change it, use the Forgot Password?
link on your login screen and follow the instructions.
Figure: Password Page
Note: You can have access to multiple tenants using the same email account, and each tenant can have a different password. Therefore, make sure you are changing your password for the appropriate tenant.
Note: This only works if you use email/password for your login credentials, not Single Sign-On (SSO).
Detailed steps to reset your password
- Go to the F5® Distributed Cloud Services website.
- If you're not at the login screen, click on Login button on the right side of the top navigation bar.
- Select your account type.
Figure: Select Account Type
For free or Individual accounts:
- Click on the
For Free or Individual accounts
square to expand it. - Click
Forgot Password?
Figure: Password Page
For Team and Organization accounts:
-
Click on the
I'm a member of a Team account
square to expand it. -
Enter your tenant/account name in the textbox.
-
Click
Next
.Figure: Tenant Selection
-
Click the
Forgot Password?
link.Figure: Password Page
- Enter your email in the textbox and click
Submit
. - In the email you receive, click
Reset credentials
. The email will come fromF5 Distributed Cloud
with the subjectReset password
. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder or try again making sure you are entering the correct email. - Enter your new password and then enter the same password in the
Confirm Password
field. Then clickSubmit
.
If you are still having difficulties, please visit our support page.