By Bonieber Orofeo -
March 14, 2025
Identifying compromised traffic and securing data has been a significant advantage
What is our primary use case?
We're using F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for our applications and for managing our incoming and outgoing traffic.
What is most valuable?
One of the most beneficial features of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is its ability to identify compromised traffic and its capabilities in authentication. Additionally, the security aspect of it provides a significant advantage as it helps us secure our data, which is a major investment and benefit for us. Before using this system, we had difficulties in storing our data and managing the traffic that comes in and out.
What needs improvement?
The price needs improvement as it is quite costly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for more than three years, probably around fifteen years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
We have a vendor who handles the deployment. It took four engineers, including me, to deploy the product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is quite good, as I would rate it nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup, including set up and configuration, took about four to six hours.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation team included me and three other engineers. We worked with a vendor for the deployment.
What was our ROI?
The major return on investment is the security of our data. It helps to secure our data, which is a substantial investment for us.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is costly. I would rate the price a five out of ten.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are using Fortinet alongside F5. We do not use artificial intelligence with F5.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) eight out of ten. I would recommend F5 to others. We have a system team for maintenance, but I do not personally take part in maintenance. I would rate the overall solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
What is our primary use case?
We're using F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for our applications and for managing our incoming and outgoing traffic.
What is most valuable?
One of the most beneficial features of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is its ability to identify compromised traffic and its c
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PeerSpot
By reviewer2380533 -
November 17, 2024
Improved our organization's performance by increasing the uptime of our applications
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for server load balancing and SSL offloading. The tool helps offload the SSL processes instead of having the servers handle it. Additionally, we use the Web Application Firewall (WAF) application for protecting our servers.
How has it helped my organization?
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) has improved our organization's performance by increasing the uptime of our applications. By including redundancies for applications, the traffic is balanced across multiple servers, which helps secure our processes.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) are server load balancing and SSL offloading or termination. These features help protect our servers and improve application uptime.
While F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is not a do-it-all solution, it has a feature called iRules that allows customization of the device's non-default functionality.
What needs improvement?
One improvement could be updating the user interface (UI).
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have never faced any stability issues with F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM).
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I do not have any complaints about scalability or technical issues with F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM).
How are customer service and support?
Customer service and support depend on prioritization. However, support is good and on par with other solutions. They follow their SLAs precisely to reach out to us based on the priority of the issue.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
There are many competitors in the load balancing market. However, F5 has been a leader in load balancing solutions for many years. They offer a 'Swiss Army knife' approach with multiple functionalities like synchronization.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There are multiple solutions available in the market. I chose to work with F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) due to its comprehensive features and leadership in the industry.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) for server load balancing and SSL offloading. The tool helps offload the SSL processes instead of having the servers handle it. Additionally, we use the Web Application Firewall (WAF) application for protecting our servers.
Ho
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PeerSpot
By reviewer2407128 -
June 6, 2024
Policies and machine learning are one of a kind, efficient, and provide minimal disturbance to the servers
What is our primary use case?
I used LTM to segment traffic between servers, secure them from deficient connections, and protect them from web attacks and malicious behavior.
How has it helped my organization?
F5 LTM supports the application delivery in high-demand scenarios.
F5 is very efficient in the services it provides, whether it's LTM or ASM. The policies and machine learning are one of a kind, efficient, and provide minimal disturbance to the servers.
What is most valuable?
From an ASM perspective, the most valuable feature was the DOS protection, SQL injection protection, bot protection, bot URLs, and many other features.
There were a lot of good features. The most beneficial for maintaining server health included the algorithms for the virtual IP, which segment traffic between servers, authentication profiles, and many other things.
The load-balancing capabilities have increased efficiency because servers can handle connection requests one at a time. There are no dropped connections, and the server health is always under the threshold.
Moreover, AI enhances LTM's performance in network management. It made it much more secure and efficient by understanding normal traffic patterns and learning the behavior of traffic within the environment. Any suspicious traffic is captured and flagged.
What needs improvement?
In the LTM solution, it would be beneficial to have more algorithms for traffic segmentation or the ability to create user-defined algorithms rather than being restricted to predefined ones.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with this product. I used it for years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I didn't face any issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable product. In some environments that I worked on, it ranged from 1000 to 10,000 normal users. It was deployed across multiple locations with multiple deployments.
I managed LTM for scaling network resources during peak times. If I had multiple servers hosting the same servers, I could segment traffic across these servers during peak times. Rather than going to one server, the traffic can go to two or three servers to ensure fast delivery and keep the servers healthy, even during peak times.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've used Citrix, but I didn't like it.
F5 was easier to manage and had better performance.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward, with no trouble at all.
* Deployment process: The service I worked on followed best practices. It involved the initial configuration, management configuration, onboarding servers, creating authentication profiles, keep-alive connections, integrating with Active Directory, and applying rules.
* Deployment time: For a huge enterprise environment, it might take about a month to fully deploy it.
What about the implementation team?
Two to three resources can handle it for a large enterprise.
There is maintenance required. With appropriate training, it can be maintained and administered without any issues.
What was our ROI?
It's worth every penny. The return on investment is amazing.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's more expensive than other load-balancing vendors.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
I used LTM to segment traffic between servers, secure them from deficient connections, and protect them from web attacks and malicious behavior.
How has it helped my organization?
F5 LTM supports the application delivery in high-demand scenarios.
F5 is very efficient in the ser
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PeerSpot
By reviewer1721355 -
February 19, 2024
Reliable, versatile, and essential for ensuring the availability and performance of our applications
What is our primary use case?
I use F5 BIG-IP LTM to balance the load across multiple servers hosting a website or web application, ensuring none get overwhelmed. It is handy for ensuring that services like my email server or database stay available and responsive, even if one server goes down. Plus, it is not just for web traffic; it can manage traffic for any TCP or UDP-based service, like FTP or SIP.
What is most valuable?
The value and impact of using F5 BIG-IP LTM for application delivery control in our organization are significant. It ensures the availability, stability, and reliability of our applications, ultimately contributing to smooth operations and enhanced user experience.
What needs improvement?
One area for improvement with F5 BIG-IP LTM could be its pricing, which some may find on the higher side. Lowering costs could make the solution more accessible to a wider range of organizations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager for about six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
F5 BIG-IP LTM is a scalable solution, especially when deployed as a virtual machine. You can increase resources and licenses as needed, providing flexibility for growth. However, with physical appliances, scalability may be limited by hardware and license constraints.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is excellent.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up F5 BIG-IP LTM is generally straightforward. In a Windows environment, initial setup might take around thirty minutes, with additional time depending on specific needs and applications. The deployment process involves configuring nodes and tools for each server and application and setting up load balancing. Additional features like compression and caching profiles can be configured as needed. Once configured, it is typically self-loading, making ongoing management easier.
What was our ROI?
The initial investment in F5 BIG-IP LTM has been worthwhile for our organization.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing cost for F5 BIG-IP LTM is typically on a yearly basis, with options for one-year or three-year terms. It is quite expensive.
What other advice do I have?
In our organization, we use F5 BIG-IP LTM for local balancing and traffic management. It helps us evenly distribute incoming traffic across our servers, ensuring our applications like Tobe and DNS run smoothly. Plus, it handles traffic for other services, like STV, effectively managing our network flow.
F5 BIG-IP LTM has been crucial in enhancing application delivery and optimizing network traffic. Its robust features ensure that applications are delivered efficiently and reliably. From load balancing to SSL offloading, it handles tasks seamlessly, making applications run smoothly.
The features of F5 BIG-IP LTM that are most crucial for ensuring high availability, performance, and application optimization are its load balancing capabilities, SSL offloading, and traffic acceleration through compression.
The security capabilities of F5 BIG-IP LTM, such as SSL offloading and firewall services, are extremely valuable to us.
As a system administrator, I find the F5 BIG-IP LTM interface very user-friendly and intuitive. It simplifies complex tasks, making management easier. Compared to other vendors, it stands out for its ease of use. Plus, its analytics features streamline monitoring and decision-making.
My advice to new users is that if you are considering using F5 BIG-IP LTM for application delivery control and firewall capabilities, I would advise starting with a clear understanding of your organization's needs and objectives. Evaluate how F5 BIG-IP LTM aligns with your requirements, considering factors like scalability, performance, and security features. Additionally, explore alternative solutions like F5 ASM or FortiWeb to ensure you choose the best fit for your specific use case.
Overall, I would rate F5 BIG-IP LTM as a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Integrator
What is our primary use case?
I use F5 BIG-IP LTM to balance the load across multiple servers hosting a website or web application, ensuring none get overwhelmed. It is handy for ensuring that services like my email server or database stay available and responsive, even if one server goes down. Plus, it is not
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PeerSpot
By reviewer2336199 -
February 1, 2024
The product is secure, robust, and reliable, but it is very expensive
What is our primary use case?
We are using the solution for our internal and client purposes. We are a cloud service provider.
What is most valuable?
The solution provides good application delivery and network optimization features. We use all the features provided by the solution. It fulfills our requirements. All our infrastructure is set up with high availability through hardware and virtualization in all flavors and levels based on the customer requirements.
What needs improvement?
The pricing must be more flexible. We get billed for firewalls based on the usage. It will be helpful if the solution provides such flexibility.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for many years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The tool is scalable. It meets the requirements.
How are customer service and support?
We have contacted the technical support team. The team is customer-friendly and knowledgeable.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. The deployment takes just one minute because we use scripts. We need one technical person for the deployment.
What was our ROI?
The solution is robust and reliable. It provides us with security.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive. We pay a yearly licensing fee.
What other advice do I have?
We recommend the product to others. It is scalable and reliable. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
What is our primary use case?
We are using the solution for our internal and client purposes. We are a cloud service provider.
What is most valuable?
The solution provides good application delivery and network optimization features. We use all the features provided by the solution. It fulfills our requiremen
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PeerSpot
By Rakesh Joshi -
October 2, 2023
Easy to deploy, offers good stability and customer support
What is our primary use case?
We have deployed it for two customers. One uses the local LTM for load balancing the application. The other uses it as a raft and for load balancing.
What is most valuable?
F5 is easy to deploy, though more challenging than Kemp. Configuration takes time, but it's stable. It offers features Kemp doesn't provide. For example, there are predefined templates for handling Office 365. You can download them for automatic configuration.
What needs improvement?
In terms of pricing, it could be more competitive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this solution for more than six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable. All our customers are enterprise-level.
How are customer service and support?
I'm satisfied with the technical support from F5. The customer service and support are good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to deploy. It took us a few hours to deploy because we had experience with the solution. A few hours will be sufficient if you have already studied how to deploy.
Configuration and deployment depend on the GUI. F5 has a different GUI, so it takes some time to get used to it. Kemp, on the other hand, has a single page where you can access everything.
With F5, you have to go to different sections for configuration. For example, to deploy a certificate, you import it, create a profile, go to the virtual service section, and link the profile. Kemp simplifies this process by allowing a static import of the certificate, making it more straightforward.
GUI plays a significant role in the ease of configuration.
What about the implementation team?
One person is enough for the deployment process.
Maintenance is not that difficult, but compared to Kemp, it is. Upgrading can be challenging; I faced issues with F5 upgrades, needed support assistance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing is quite high. We have taken it on a five-year basis. Not yearly.
And for support also, there is an extra cost.
What other advice do I have?
It depends on the customer's requirements. If both F5 and Kemp provide have the same features, I would suggest the customer go with Kemp because it's the cheapest solution. But if the customer requires something different supported by F5, then go with F5.
Overall, I would rate the product a nine out of ten; there is room for improvement in the pricing model.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
What is our primary use case?
We have deployed it for two customers. One uses the local LTM for load balancing the application. The other uses it as a raft and for load balancing.
What is most valuable?
F5 is easy to deploy, though more challenging than Kemp. Configuration takes time, but it's stable. It off
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PeerSpot
By Joel Soares De Jesus -
September 28, 2023
Helps to balance traffic but needs improvement in pricing
What is our primary use case?
We use F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager to balance traffic.
What needs improvement?
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager is expensive. Pricing needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for five to eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager is a scalable solution.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the product a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
We use F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager to balance traffic.
What needs improvement?
F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager is expensive. Pricing needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for five to eight years.
What do I think about
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By Roni Wijaya -
June 21, 2023
Stable solution with good security features
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for its load balancing and web application firewall features.
What is most valuable?
The solution's valuable features are flexibility, stability, security, and performance.
What needs improvement?
The solution's hardware quality needs improvement. Also, its cloud-based anti-DDoS has limitations. It could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. I rate its stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. I rate its scalability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support is good in some areas. Although, it could be faster.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In comparison with Barracuda, the solution has better performance.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is easy to install. It takes a day to configure and requires three engineers to execute the process. Also, it requires one executive to maintain it.
What was our ROI?
The solution is good in terms of investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is more expensive than Barracuda. We pay yearly for its support services. There are no additional costs involved apart from the standard license.
What other advice do I have?
One must check the performance capacity of internal applications while using the solution, as wrong configurations lead to failure in accessing them.
I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for its load balancing and web application firewall features.
What is most valuable?
The solution's valuable features are flexibility, stability, security, and performance.
What needs improvement?
The solution's hardware quality needs improvement. Also, its
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Written by a user while visiting
PeerSpot