F5-CTS-LTM BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager Practice Question
When implementing SNAT Automap on a virtual server, what is the source IP address of the traffic as it arrives at the backend server?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently confuse the client's original source IP with the BIG-IP address, forgetting that SNAT Automap performs address translation to the egress Self-IP to ensure return traffic hits the BIG-IP.
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
✓
The BIG-IP egress Self-IP address.
SNAT Automap causes the BIG-IP to translate the client's source IP address to the self-IP address of the egress interface used to communicate with the pool member. This is a key design pattern for ensuring that backend servers can reply directly to the BIG-IP without needing to update their default gateways, which is essential for deployments where the BIG-IP is not the default gateway for the backend servers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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The original client source IP address.
Why it's wrong here
If SNAT Automap is enabled, the client's original IP address is obscured. The BIG-IP replaces the client's source IP with its own self-IP address. If the original IP is required by the backend application for logging or security, developers must use an X-Forwarded-For header to pass the true client IP.
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The Virtual Server IP address.
Why it's wrong here
The Virtual Server IP address is the destination address that the client initially targets. It is not used as the source IP for traffic originating from the BIG-IP toward the backend pool. The source IP is replaced by the BIG-IP's self-IP, effectively hiding the client's origin from the backend.
- ✓
The BIG-IP egress Self-IP address.
Why this is correct
SNAT Automap automatically chooses the self-IP address of the interface that the BIG-IP uses to route traffic to the destination pool member. This ensures return traffic from the server reaches the BIG-IP, facilitating successful two-way communication when the backend server lacks a route back to the client network.
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The default gateway address of the LTM.
Why it's wrong here
The default gateway is used for routing traffic out of the management or internal networks, but it is not utilized as the source IP address for traffic arriving at a pool member. The BIG-IP always uses its own interface IP addresses for SNAT operations to maintain a consistent return path.
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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.