diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index 9e6ad2de23..0ace566641 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -1293,7 +1293,7 @@ MERGE_MULTIPLE_CLI_TAGS:
   version_added: "2.3"
 NETWORK_GROUP_MODULES:
   name: Network module families
-  default: [eos, nxos, ios, iosxr, junos, enos, ce, vyos, sros, dellos9, dellos10, dellos6, asa, aruba, aireos]
+  default: [eos, nxos, ios, iosxr, junos, enos, ce, vyos, sros, dellos9, dellos10, dellos6, asa, aruba, aireos, bigip]
   description: 'TODO: write it'
   env: [{name: NETWORK_GROUP_MODULES}]
   ini:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/f5_utils.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/f5_utils.py
index 7b7aeaeba8..4f3f0d1bac 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/f5_utils.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/f5_utils.py
@@ -134,6 +134,28 @@ def fq_list_names(partition, list_names):
     return map(lambda x: fq_name(partition, x), list_names)
 
 
+def to_commands(module, commands):
+    spec = {
+        'command': dict(key=True),
+        'prompt': dict(),
+        'answer': dict()
+    }
+    transform = ComplexList(spec, module)
+    return transform(commands)
+
+
+def run_commands(module, commands, check_rc=True):
+    responses = list()
+    commands = to_commands(module, to_list(commands))
+    for cmd in commands:
+        cmd = module.jsonify(cmd)
+        rc, out, err = exec_command(module, cmd)
+        if check_rc and rc != 0:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(err, errors='surrogate_then_replace'), rc=rc)
+        responses.append(to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return responses
+
+
 # New style
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractproperty
@@ -154,6 +176,9 @@ except ImportError:
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, with_metaclass
+from ansible.module_utils.network_common import to_list, ComplexList
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import exec_command
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 
 
 F5_COMMON_ARGS = dict(
@@ -232,12 +257,13 @@ class AnsibleF5Client(object):
         self.check_mode = self.module.check_mode
         self._connect_params = self._get_connect_params()
 
-        try:
-            self.api = self._get_mgmt_root(
-                f5_product_name, **self._connect_params
-            )
-        except iControlUnexpectedHTTPError as exc:
-            self.fail(str(exc))
+        if 'transport' not in self.module.params or self.module.params['transport'] != 'cli':
+            try:
+                self.api = self._get_mgmt_root(
+                    f5_product_name, **self._connect_params
+                )
+            except iControlUnexpectedHTTPError as exc:
+                self.fail(str(exc))
 
     def fail(self, msg):
         self.module.fail_json(msg=msg)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py
index b24362de09..a601f4ba61 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py
@@ -64,6 +64,17 @@ options:
         conditional, the interval indicates how to long to wait before
         trying the command again.
     default: 1
+  transport:
+    description:
+      - Configures the transport connection to use when connecting to the
+        remote device. The transport argument supports connectivity to the
+        device over cli (ssh) or rest.
+    required: true
+    choices:
+        - rest
+        - cli
+    default: rest
+    version_added: "2.5"
 notes:
   - Requires the f5-sdk Python package on the host. This is as easy as pip
     install f5-sdk.
@@ -158,6 +169,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import AnsibleF5Parameters
 from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import HAS_F5SDK
 from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import F5ModuleError
 from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import iControlUnexpectedHTTPError
+from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import run_commands
 from ansible.module_utils.netcli import FailedConditionsError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.module_utils.netcli import Conditional
@@ -179,10 +191,11 @@ class Parameters(AnsibleF5Parameters):
     @property
     def commands(self):
         commands = deque(self._values['commands'])
-        commands.appendleft(
-            'tmsh modify cli preference pager disabled'
-        )
-        commands = map(self._ensure_tmsh_prefix, list(commands))
+        if self._values['transport'] != 'cli':
+            commands.appendleft(
+                'tmsh modify cli preference pager disabled'
+            )
+            commands = map(self._ensure_tmsh_prefix, list(commands))
         return list(commands)
 
     def _ensure_tmsh_prefix(self, cmd):
@@ -208,9 +221,11 @@ class ModuleManager(object):
 
     def _is_valid_mode(self, cmd):
         valid_configs = [
-            'tmsh list', 'tmsh show',
-            'tmsh modify cli preference pager disabled'
+            'list', 'show',
+            'modify cli preference pager disabled'
         ]
+        if self.client.module.params['transport'] != 'cli':
+            valid_configs = list(map(self.want._ensure_tmsh_prefix, valid_configs))
         if any(cmd.startswith(x) for x in valid_configs):
             return True
         return False
@@ -241,12 +256,16 @@ class ModuleManager(object):
             return
 
         while retries > 0:
-            responses = self.execute_on_device(commands)
+            if self.client.module.params['transport'] == 'cli':
+                responses = run_commands(self.client.module, self.want.commands)
+            else:
+                responses = self.execute_on_device(commands)
 
             for item in list(conditionals):
                 if item(responses):
                     if self.want.match == 'any':
-                        return item
+                        conditionals = list()
+                        break
                     conditionals.remove(item)
 
             if not conditionals:
@@ -280,7 +299,7 @@ class ModuleManager(object):
         commands = transform(commands)
 
         for index, item in enumerate(commands):
-            if not self._is_valid_mode(item['command']):
+            if not self._is_valid_mode(item['command']) and self.client.module.params['transport'] != 'cli':
                 warnings.append(
                     'Using "write" commands is not idempotent. You should use '
                     'a module that is specifically made for that. If such a '
@@ -329,15 +348,17 @@ class ArgumentSpec(object):
             interval=dict(
                 default=1,
                 type='int'
+            ),
+            transport=dict(
+                type='str',
+                default='rest',
+                choices=['cli', 'rest']
             )
         )
         self.f5_product_name = 'bigip'
 
 
 def main():
-    if not HAS_F5SDK:
-        raise F5ModuleError("The python f5-sdk module is required")
-
     spec = ArgumentSpec()
 
     client = AnsibleF5Client(
@@ -346,6 +367,9 @@ def main():
         f5_product_name=spec.f5_product_name
     )
 
+    if client.module.params['transport'] != 'cli' and not HAS_F5SDK:
+        raise F5ModuleError("The python f5-sdk module is required to use the rest api")
+
     try:
         mm = ModuleManager(client)
         results = mm.exec_module()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/bigip.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/bigip.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0933751f22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/bigip.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#
+# (c) 2016 Red Hat Inc.
+#
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import sys
+import copy
+
+from ansible import constants as C
+from ansible.module_utils.f5_utils import F5_COMMON_ARGS
+from ansible.module_utils.network_common import load_provider
+from ansible.plugins.action.normal import ActionModule as _ActionModule
+
+try:
+    from __main__ import display
+except ImportError:
+    from ansible.utils.display import Display
+    display = Display()
+
+
+class ActionModule(_ActionModule):
+
+    def run(self, tmp=None, task_vars=None):
+        transport = self._task.args.get('transport', 'rest')
+
+        display.vvvv('connection transport is %s' % transport, self._play_context.remote_addr)
+
+        if transport == 'cli':
+            provider = load_provider(F5_COMMON_ARGS, self._task.args)
+            self._task.args.pop('provider', None)
+            pc = copy.deepcopy(self._play_context)
+            pc.connection = 'network_cli'
+            pc.network_os = 'bigip'
+            pc.remote_addr = provider.get('server', self._play_context.remote_addr)
+            pc.port = int(provider['server_port'] or self._play_context.port or 22)
+            pc.remote_user = provider.get('user', self._play_context.connection_user)
+            pc.password = provider.get('password', self._play_context.password)
+            pc.timeout = int(provider.get('timeout', C.PERSISTENT_COMMAND_TIMEOUT))
+
+            display.vvv('using connection plugin %s' % pc.connection, pc.remote_addr)
+            connection = self._shared_loader_obj.connection_loader.get('persistent', pc, sys.stdin)
+
+            socket_path = connection.run()
+            display.vvvv('socket_path: %s' % socket_path, pc.remote_addr)
+            if not socket_path:
+                return {'failed': True,
+                        'msg': 'unable to open shell. Please see: ' +
+                               'https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/network_debug_troubleshooting.html#unable-to-open-shell'}
+
+            # make sure we are in the right cli context which should be
+            # enable mode and not config mode
+            rc, out, err = connection.exec_command('prompt()')
+            while '(config' in str(out):
+                display.vvvv('wrong context, sending exit to device', self._play_context.remote_addr)
+                connection.exec_command('exit')
+                rc, out, err = connection.exec_command('prompt()')
+
+            task_vars['ansible_socket'] = socket_path
+
+        result = super(ActionModule, self).run(tmp, task_vars)
+        return result
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/bigip.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/bigip.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0da27fda41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/bigip.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#
+# (c) 2016 Red Hat Inc.
+#
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import re
+
+from ansible.plugins.terminal import TerminalBase
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleConnectionFailure
+
+
+class TerminalModule(TerminalBase):
+
+    terminal_stdout_re = [
+        re.compile(br"[\r\n]?(?:\([^\)]+\)){,5}(?:>|#) ?$"),
+        re.compile(br"[\r\n]?[\w+\-\.:\/\[\]]+(?:\([^\)]+\)){,3}(?:>|#) ?$"),
+        re.compile(br"\[\w+\@[\w\-\.]+(?: [^\]])\] ?[>#\$] ?$")
+    ]
+
+    terminal_stderr_re = [
+        re.compile(br"% ?Error"),
+        re.compile(br"% User not present"),
+        re.compile(br"% ?Bad secret"),
+        re.compile(br"invalid input", re.I),
+        re.compile(br"(?:incomplete|ambiguous) command", re.I),
+        re.compile(br"connection timed out", re.I),
+        re.compile(br"[^\r\n]+ not found", re.I),
+        re.compile(br"'[^']' +returned error code: ?\d+"),
+        re.compile(br"[^\r\n]\/bin\/(?:ba)?sh")
+    ]
+
+    def on_open_shell(self):
+        try:
+            self._exec_cli_command(b'modify cli preference display-threshold 0 pager disabled')
+        except AnsibleConnectionFailure:
+            raise AnsibleConnectionFailure('unable to set terminal parameters')
diff --git a/test/units/modules/network/f5/test_bigip_command.py b/test/units/modules/network/f5/test_bigip_command.py
index 778acdc7f2..b3009fda80 100644
--- a/test/units/modules/network/f5/test_bigip_command.py
+++ b/test/units/modules/network/f5/test_bigip_command.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def load_fixture(name):
 
 
 class TestParameters(unittest.TestCase):
+
     def test_module_parameters(self):
         args = dict(
             commands=[
@@ -85,6 +86,10 @@ class TestParameters(unittest.TestCase):
 class TestManager(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
+        self.mock_run_commands = patch('ansible.modules.network.f5.bigip_command.run_commands')
+        self.run_commands = self.mock_run_commands.start()
+        self.mock_execute_on_device = patch('ansible.modules.network.f5.bigip_command.ModuleManager.execute_on_device')
+        self.execute_on_device = self.mock_execute_on_device.start()
         self.spec = ArgumentSpec()
 
     def test_run_single_command(self, *args):
@@ -104,9 +109,28 @@ class TestManager(unittest.TestCase):
         )
         mm = ModuleManager(client)
 
-        # Override methods to force specific logic in the module to happen
-        mm.execute_on_device = Mock(return_value='foo')
-
         results = mm.exec_module()
 
         assert results['changed'] is True
+        self.assertEqual(self.run_commands.call_count, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.execute_on_device.call_count, 1)
+
+    def test_cli_command(self, *args):
+        set_module_args(dict(
+            commands=[
+                "show sys version"
+            ],
+            server='localhost',
+            user='admin',
+            password='password',
+            transport='cli'
+        ))
+        client = AnsibleF5Client(
+            argument_spec=self.spec.argument_spec,
+            supports_check_mode=self.spec.supports_check_mode,
+            f5_product_name=self.spec.f5_product_name
+        )
+        mm = ModuleManager(client)
+        results = mm.exec_module()
+        self.assertEqual(self.run_commands.call_count, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(self.execute_on_device.call_count, 0)