What are Dynamic Condition and Dynamic List used for?

Short answer

Both are condition types that look at the value of a Smart Variable instead of a fixed field. Dynamic Condition compares the variable with a single value using an Operator (text, number, range, Boolean or IP/cidr). Dynamic List searches for the variable in a multi-line List (Exact match, Start, End, Includes, Regex or IP/cidr match). They are used for criteria that the ready-made condition types do not cover, and they work on both HTTP and L7 TCP vServices, at the On Request and On Response stages.

How Does It Work?

1. The left side of the condition is a Smart Variable: it is selected with the fx button in the Query Key field in Dynamic condition and in the Key to Search field in Dynamic list.
2. While the traffic is processed, the variable is filled with the real value of that request or response (e.g. the client IP, the value of a header, a random number).
3. Dynamic condition compares this value with a single value using the selected operator; Dynamic list, on the other hand, searches for the value in the lines of the list with the selected Search Method.
4. If the result is true, the condition matches and the action or Conditional Backend Services block that it is bound to takes effect.

Comparison

	Dynamic condition	Dynamic list
Left side	Query Key (Smart Variable, required)	Key to Search (Smart Variable, required; default Client IP address)
Right side	A single value; the field changes according to the operator (comparison value field)	A multi-line List (each line is one value)
Method	Operator: Text equality, Text inclusion, Text start, Text end, Text regex, Integer equality, Integer greater than, Integer less than, Integer range, Boolean, IP/cidr match	Search Method: Exact Match, Start, End, Includes, Regex, IP/cidr match
Typical use	"If the random number is less than 10" (percentage split), "if the value of a header is greater than a number"	"If the client IP is in one of the networks in this list", "if the path starts with one of these prefixes"
vService types	HTTP · L7 TCP	HTTP · L7 TCP

What to Know in TR7

• Dynamic condition: Integer range includes both boundaries in the range; the text operators are case-sensitive. When IP/cidr match is selected, the IP and the CIDR are entered in separate fields.
• Dynamic list: The searches are case-sensitive. In the IP/cidr match method, lines that are not in IP/CIDR format are not taken into account.
• Search Method comes with Exact match selected in the form and cannot be left empty; the method is changed according to the format of the values in the list (IP/cidr match in IP address and block lists).
• Both can be used at the On Request and On Response stages; the variable list is filtered according to the stage and the protocol.

Common Misconceptions

• "The list in Dynamic list is updated at runtime." The word "Dynamic" describes that the searched value comes from a variable; the list is a part of the condition; a change in the list is applied to the vServices that use the condition when the condition is saved.
• "Dynamic condition is compared with more than one value." It is compared with a single value; for many values, Dynamic list is used.
• "The default search method suits every list." Exact match comes selected in the form and looks for a value identical to the line in the list; IP blocks (such as 10.0.0.0/8) do not match with this method. IP/cidr match is selected in IP address and block lists.

How it is done in the documentation

• Dynamic Condition · Operator
• Dynamic Condition · Comparison Value Field
• Dynamic List · Search Method
• Dynamic List · List

Related questions

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