F5-CTS-LTM BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager Practice Question
Which THREE criteria determine how a BIG-IP selects a pool member for a new client connection?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often forget that persistence overrides the load balancing method. They assume the load balancing algorithm is the sole factor, ignoring that active sessions force traffic to specific members.
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 configured load balancing method.
Load balancing decisions are multi-faceted. The BIG-IP considers the configured load balancing method (e.g., Round Robin, Least Connections), the status of the pool members (only active members are eligible), and any active persistence records that might override the load balancing method for returning clients. These three factors combine to ensure traffic is distributed intelligently and consistently across the available server pool.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The configured load balancing method.
Why this is correct
The load balancing method is the primary algorithm used to choose a member when no persistence is found. It dictates the distribution strategy, such as distributing traffic equally, based on connection counts, or based on server capacity, ensuring the load is spread according to the administrator's design.
- ✗
The physical location of the client's ISP.
Why it's wrong here
While Global Traffic Manager (GTM/DNS) uses proximity, the Local Traffic Manager (LTM) makes decisions based on local pool availability and load balancing algorithms. ISP location is not a default factor in LTM pool member selection unless specifically configured via an iRule or specialized F5 modules like BIG-IP DNS.
- ✓
Active persistence records.
Why this is correct
If a persistence record exists for the client's session, the LTM will bypass the load balancing algorithm and send the client to the previously chosen server. This ensures session continuity for applications that require the same user to stay on the same server throughout their visit.
- ✓
The current health state of the pool members.
Why this is correct
Only pool members that are currently marked 'up' by their assigned health monitors are eligible to receive traffic. If a member is marked down, it is removed from the selection pool, ensuring that users are never routed to a non-functional or unreachable backend server.
- ✗
The CPU speed of the client's device.
Why it's wrong here
The BIG-IP LTM has no visibility into the client device's CPU speed. Decisions are based on server performance and availability, network topology, and session persistence. Client-side hardware metrics are irrelevant to the load balancing decision process within the local traffic management infrastructure.
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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.