F5 Synthesis Update Extends Software-Defined Apps Services
F5 Networks has updated its Synthesis architecture model to enhance the delivery of software-defined application services (SDAS) to provide customers with improvements in the performance of application services and a reduced total cost of ownership.
F5 Networks (FFIV) has updated its Synthesis architecture model to enhance the delivery of software-defined application services (SDAS) to provide customers with improvements in the performance of application services and a reduced total cost of ownership.
One of the goals of Synthesis has been to change the economy of scale for the configuration and deployment of applications, said Lori MacVittie, senior product manager for Emerging Technologies at F5 Networks. In an interview with The VAR Guy, MacVittie explained that Synthesis is really intended for customers and partners to get their applications to market faster.
But additionally, Synthesis provides intelligent services orchestration that makes it easier for end customers to burst into or deploy apps on cloud infrastructure, such as Amazon Web Services. Backed by the BIG-IQ platform framework, Synthesis is a modularized system that also works with a variety of technology partners' own frameworks and fabrics.
It's something that F5 partners are excited about, said Keith McManigal, vice president of Channel Sales at F5. Partners can appreciate the simplify application services, as well as how F5 packages it into cost-effective modules so they can gain additional margin, simply because they don't have to discount to customers as much, he said.
There's a lot involved in this update, including:
- BIG-IP version 11.5 software, which contains enhancements around application delivery services and security.
- Virtual solutions with throughput levels of between 25Mbps and 10Gbps.
- BIG-IQ version 4.2 software for simplified management and orchestration, as well as a new BIG-IQ Device for enhanced configuration capabilities for both physical and virtual BIG-IP devices.
- Network virtualization capabilities to extend support of software-defined networking (SDN) technologies in the application delivery controller market.
- And updated licensing and pricing, including an expanded presence in the Amazon Web Services Marketplace.
"Getting things to market faster is very important, but to do that, you need to scale very efficiently," MacVittie said. And that's the theme around this update of Synthesis—simplifying things for both partners and customers for additional scalability and flexibility.
