F5 Access

F5 Networks Inc.

About this app

The F5 Access for Android app (formerly known as the BIG-IP Edge Client for Android) from F5 Networks secures and accelerates mobile device access to enterprise networks and applications using VPN and optimization technologies. Secure VPN access is provided as part of an enterprise deployment of F5 BIG-IP® Access Policy Manager™ (APM).

Use of this application is subject to the End User License Agreement available at:

https://cdn.f5.com/product/apm/apps/eula.html

By downloading and using the application, you agree to its terms.

F5 Access for Android™, version 3.0.5, features:

- Full Layer 3 network access to all enterprise applications and files
- Google Android 5.0+ per-app VPN support
- Support for Android for Work, by securing app traffic with F5 BIG-IP APM
- Support for Android on Chrome OS
- Automatic network roaming, to stay connected on the go
- Use of client certificates from Android Credential Storage for authentication (for Android version 4.0, 4.2.x, 4.3.x, 4.4.x, 5.x, 6.0 and higher; Android 4.1 cannot be supported)
- SAML authentication for initiating seamless VPN connections
- Multi-factor authentication support including SAML
- Biometric and Device Authentication for re-use of cached credentials
- Detection of rooted devices
- Seamless user provisioning through MDM products from Airwatch, MaaS360 and MobileIron Core
- Managed configuration mode for disabling of user edits to connection configurations after user’s IT admin has setup the initial configurations
- Supports Android 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, 8.0 and 10
- Always On VPN Mode for Android for Work

Requirements: (Contact your IT Administrator)

- F5 BIG-IP® Access Policy Manager

NOTE: This app uses the Device Administrator permission. Please refer to the F5 Access User Guide for instructions on uninstalling the application.

BEFORE YOU CONTACT F5 SUPPORT, PLEASE SEE: http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/2000/600/sol2633.html

Ratings and reviews

Works OK, but the autostart after booting the device is not working when the VPN is set as "always-on". Similar VPN apps work flawlessly and connect automatically, this one hangs and does nothing upon boot. Tested on multiple devices, android 11 to 13, with or without MDM. Multiple support tickets with F5 leading absolutely nowhere. Everytime we are told to to something else, including completely reconfiguring the BigIP APM end, but connecting manually works immediately without user input.

Downgraded my rating because the app experience couldn't be more awful. Encounters mind-boggling error states and and freezes forever whenever you try to do something important with it. Garbage-ware that is engineered for corporation to license but not at all designed for users to interact with it for anything important.

1. The ui and set-up are not exactly top notch. 2. Every time I want to turn the VPN on, I have to go through my company's security sign-in process (which is fine), and then re-open the F5 app and stare at the circular progress bar until it connects. After I sign-in, I'd expect the app to be smart enough to connect in the background but this is not the case.

What's new

SDK upgrade
Bug Fixes