Slow Web Applications Got You Down?

October 12th, 2006: Suffering with slow performance of web-based applications? F5 Networks says it has the cure to what ails you with its new WebAccelerator.

Coming in two flavours, a stand alone appliance and as a module for F5’s BIG-IP traffic management system, F5 says that WebAccelerator is certified and proven to speed up web apps by Microsoft, Siebel, Oracle and other platforms.

The company claims that WebAccelerator uses intelligent browsing techniques, policies and specialised configurations to overcome conditions that can normally put strain on web applications.

The module uses intelligent browser referencing capabilities to help streamline communication between client and server to overcome issues such as WAN latency and bad browser-side behaviour. F5 says this feature provides a completely clientless approach and improves application performance by 3 to 10 times. It is also integrated with F5’s TMOS services, enabling features such as iRules, QoS, Packet Filtering, and TCP Express.

If an organisation isn’t already using a F5 BIG-IP solution, then the WebAccelerator 4500 appliance is a standalone device with a base configuration comprised of dual, redundant, hot swappable power supplies and 150GB RAID hard drives. It of course includes all the functionality of the module.

“With WebAccelerator, F5 is the first vendor to deliver extensive application specificity and to offer 'packaged intelligence' for the application being deployed,” says Chris Poulos, Managing Director, F5 Networks Australia & New Zealand. “This capability enables our customers to improve their application acceleration results, handle application anomalies out-of-the box, and reduce the cost of deployment.”

F5 says that the WebAccelerator module will run on the BIG-IP 6400, 6800, and 8400 platforms and is available immediately in Australia and New Zealand starting at $36,243. The appliance is also available now starting at $41,028.

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