Tip: Avoid end-of-life (EOL) versions like 11.x, 12.x, 13.x unless required for legacy lab work.

If deploying to a physical appliance or bare-metal server, you must burn the ISO to a USB drive. Standard tools like Rufus (Windows) or the dd command-line utility (Linux/macOS) are recommended. Use if prompted by the imaging software to ensure the F5 Linux-based kernel boots correctly. Licensing Requirements

If you are upgrading a hardware appliance or an existing Virtual Edition: Log in to the BIG-IP Configuration Utility (Web UI). Navigate to .

To the uninitiated, an ISO file is just a container—a CD-ROM image. But the BIG-IP ISO is different. When you boot from this image, you aren't installing a typical application. You are wiping the slate clean and transforming generic server hardware into a specialized Application Delivery Controller (ADC).

Tip: For production environments, always select a release unless you require a specific feature found only in a Short-Term Stability (STS) release.

F5 secures its software behind paywalls. You need one of the following:

Locate the navigation menu and select the section. (Note: In older portal iterations, this was known as the "F5 Downloads" or "Downloads site"). 3. Select Your Product Line

Look for the standard installation file ending in .iso . This is used for clean installations via bootable USB or management consoles.

file BIGIP-17.1.2-0.0.11.iso

F5 typically releases a major new BIG‑IP version every 12‑18 months, and each version receives regular maintenance updates (hotfixes). The company supports each major release for up to five years. As of mid‑2026, the following versions are the most relevant:

Switch to a different geographical mirror on the F5 download page, or use a command-line tool like wget -c [URL] to allow resuming if the connection drops.

: You need an active license or registration key. This key must cover the specific software version you want. Step-by-Step Download Instructions