F5-CTS-LTM BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager Practice Question
An administrator wants to redirect all incoming HTTP traffic on port 80 to HTTPS on port 443. What is the most effective approach?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates attempt to handle HTTP-to-HTTPS redirection directly within a single HTTPS virtual server, causing infinite loops or unhandled plaintext requests.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an iRule on a separate HTTP virtual server to send a redirect.
Creating a separate HTTP virtual server that uses an iRule to perform a 301 or 302 redirect is the most effective method. This keeps the logic clean and separates the handling of unencrypted traffic (redirecting it) from the encrypted virtual server that handles the actual application traffic, ensuring clear separation of concerns in the configuration while maintaining a secure user experience.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure the existing HTTPS VS to also listen on port 80.
Why it's wrong here
A virtual server cannot effectively perform both SSL termination and a plain-text redirect for all incoming requests without complex iRule logic. It is much cleaner and more standard practice to use two separate virtual servers, one for HTTP (redirect) and one for HTTPS (actual traffic processing).
- ✓
Use an iRule on a separate HTTP virtual server to send a redirect.
Why this is correct
Creating a virtual server dedicated to HTTP traffic and applying a simple 'HTTP::respond 301 Location...' iRule is the industry-standard way to force HTTPS. It is performant, easy to audit, and allows for clean management of redirection rules without cluttering the main HTTPS virtual server configuration.
- ✗
Enable 'Force HTTPS' in the pool configuration.
Why it's wrong here
There is no 'Force HTTPS' setting in the pool configuration. Pools are used for load balancing backend servers, not for influencing the client-side protocol or redirection logic. The BIG-IP handles client communication at the virtual server level, not at the pool member selection level of the device.
- ✗
Use a SNAT pool to force traffic to port 443.
Why it's wrong here
SNAT pools are for source IP address translation. They have no capability to redirect client traffic or force a port change. Redirecting traffic is an application-layer function that requires an HTTP response, which is handled by the virtual server's iRule or profile settings, not by SNAT.
About these practice questions
One of 119 original F5-CTS-LTM practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official F5 exam blueprint
This F5-CTS-LTM practice question is part of Courseiva's free F5 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the F5-CTS-LTM exam.