Hi let me explain my case:
1 - I'm using BigIP LTM VE trial edition (BIGIP-11.3.0.39.0-scsi.ova) run over Vmware Workstation 10
2 - in the same VMware env. I run various VMs as servers or clients in different subnets with a 1-to-1 relation to the VMnets.
2 - using GNS3 I created a basic network with a virtual switch linked to various VMnet. The emulates a Catalyst. On the switch I setup as trunk the interfaces connected to the LTM VM. I created the Virtual interfaces on the various subnets tagging with the proper VLAN IDs (for production/pre-prod back-ends and prod/pre-prod front-ends)
3 - on the LTM VM side I configured the interfaces as tagged vlan in order to receive and manage the various subnets traffic
4 - moreover I created the various self-IPs and the related route-domains
5 - what I see when I try e.g from a server in PROD. BE to ping the selfIP of the F5 on the same subnet is that the arp request arrives on the right tagged interface of the LTM (let's call it the BE interface) 802.1q encapsulated. The F5 deencaps and correctly replies with an arp reply but sending it back not-encapsulated on the same interface. This way the virtual switch ignores it (or at least it seems so) and it doesn't forward it to the requesting server
Am I enough understandable ? Does what I told have a sense for you ? Could you please help me/us to understand what's wrong with my/our setup ?
Thanks,
best regards
Riccardo