abednarz
Executive Editor

F5 platform takes a la carte approach to application delivery

Opinion
Aug 4, 20092 mins

Big-IP 3900 lets midsize enterprises add application services as needed

F5’s new Big-IP 3900 lets midsize companies consolidate application acceleration, security and optimization services on a single 1U platform.

Having room to grow is a key consideration for shoppers — whether you’re in the market for back-to-school clothes for growing kids or a new application delivery platform.

Yesterday, F5 Networks unveiled its new Big-IP 3900 platform, which is designed to let midsize enterprises deploy application services as needed. The new system supports multiple software modules on a single device at a lower price point than previous models, F5 says, so midsize companies can yield a greater ROI. It unifies traffic management, Web application firewall security, and application acceleration, for example, and customers can add functionality as their deployment requirements grow.

F5 beats estimates

In terms of form factor, the Big-IP 3900 is the first 1U application delivery controller platform from F5 that supports multiple product modules — so no huge chassis required. The new platform supports F5’s Big-IP Local Traffic Manager, Global Traffic Manager, Application Security Manager, WebAccelerator and Link Controller. By consolidating these software modules on a single device, companies can reduce power, space, and cooling costs, F5 says.

According to F5, the Big-IP 3900 is a good entry point for companies that want to consolidate application traffic management, security and optimization services, but “do not have high throughput demands that would require a more substantial hardware investment.”

The Big-IP 3900 comes standard with F5’s Fast Cache technology, IPv6 gateway, rate shaping, SSL offload, and compression functionality. Available beginning this month, the Big-IP 3900 with Local Traffic Manager has a list price of $39,995.

“F5’s flexible ADC deployment options enable organizations to implement a consolidated system that supports their unique business goals and service requirements, and provides a seamless path for adding more sophisticated services as companies’ application delivery needs evolve,” said Jon Oltsik, principal analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, in a prepared statement.

“Every business has different needs when it comes to application delivery,” said Jason Needham, senior director of product management at F5, in a statement. “Over the last year, F5 has refreshed its full range of Big-IP hardware offerings to give our customers more options in choosing a platform that provides the performance needed for their business at a low price point.”

abednarz

Ann Bednarz is the executive editor of Network World. Ann is a longtime IT journalist and has spent 26 years writing and editing for Network World, where she has worked as a news reporter, managed product testing and reviews, and developed features and how-to articles for an audience of network professionals and data center managers. Over the last two years, she has conceived and edited award-winning content for Network World that includes 2025 Jesse H. Neal Award finalists, 2025 Azbee Award regional winners and national finalists, and 2024 Eddie & Ozzie Award finalists.

Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and spent the early part of her journalism career writing about architectural design and construction. In her free time, she keeps those skills alive through DIY projects.

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