F5 BIG-IP i5600 vs i4600: High-Performance vs Mid-Range ADC Comparison

When selecting between F5 Networks' application delivery controllers, the BIG-IP i5600 (high-performance model) and BIG-IP i4600 (mid-range solution) offer distinct capabilities for different network environments. This comprehensive comparison examines their technical specifications, operational performance, and ideal deployment scenarios to help network architects make informed decisions.

Technical Specifications Comparison

The i5600 delivers 2x greater performance across key metrics compared to the i4600, establishing clear differentiation between these models.

Functional Capabilities Analysis

1. Core ADC Features

Both models provide:

• Layer 4-7 load balancing

• SSL/TLS acceleration

• Application health monitoring

• Web application firewall

• DNS load balancing

i5600 Advantages:

• Higher connection capacity

• Better SSL inspection throughput

• Advanced traffic management

• Enhanced DDoS protection

i4600 Strengths:

• More power-efficient

• Compact 1RU form factor

• Lower acquisition cost

2. Security & Traffic Management

• i5600 excels in:

• High-volume traffic inspection

• Advanced rate shaping

• Detailed performance analytics

• i4600 optimized for:

• Standard security policies

• Moderate traffic loads

• Basic WAF configurations

Physical Design Comparison

Chassis Architecture:

• i5600:

• 2RU enterprise design

• Redundant power options

• High-density port configuration

• Data center optimized

• i4600:

• 1RU compact form factor

• Single power supply

• Space-efficient design

Environmental Specifications:

• Operating temperature:

• Both: 0°C to 40°C

• Physical dimensions:

• i5600: 2RU, 24" deep

• i4600: 1RU, 17.5" deep

• Weight:

• i5600: 30 lbs

• i4600: 20 lbs

User Experience Evaluation

Administration & Management:
Both utilize:

• F5 TMOS operating system

• Web-based GUI

• tmsh CLI

• REST API support

Operational Differences:

• i5600 better for:

• Complex traffic policies

• High-availability setups

• Multi-site deployments

• i4600 ideal for:

• Simpler configurations

• Single-site deployments

• Lower administrative overhead

Pricing & Cost Analysis

Acquisition Costs:

• i5600: 60,000−75,000

• i4600: 35,000−45,000

Operational Expenditures:

• Power consumption difference: ~$100/year

• Rack space requirements:

• i5600 needs 2x more space

• Support contracts:

• Similar licensing models

Five-Year TCO Considerations:

• i5600 justified for:

• High-traffic applications

• Enterprise deployments

• Future growth

• i4600 economical for:

• Medium business needs

• Branch office deployments

• Budget-conscious projects

Power Efficiency Metrics

Energy Usage:

• i5600: 320W (peak)

• i4600: 220W (peak)

Efficiency Comparison:

• Performance per watt:

• i5600: 125 Mbps/W

• i4600: 90 Mbps/W

• Idle power draw:

• i5600: 180W

• i4600: 120W

Compatibility & Expansion

Third-Party Integration:
Both support:

• VMware, KVM, Hyper-V

• Cloud platforms

• Automation tools

i5600 Advantages:

• More high-speed ports

• Better scalability

• Advanced SDN support

Software Support & Roadmap

Current Versions:

• Both run TMOS 16.x+

• Support iRules customization

Future Development:

• i5600 prioritized for:

• Cloud ADC features

• Enhanced analytics

• i4600 receives:

• Core updates

• Security patches

Final Recommendation

Choose i5600 When:
✔ Handling 2M+ connections
✔ Need 40G+ throughput
✔ Running critical applications
✔ Planning future growth

Select i4600 When:
✔ Managing medium traffic
✔ Require cost efficiency
✔ Deploying in space-limited areas
✔ Running standard workloads

Implementation Strategy:
For organizations with mixed requirements, consider deploying i5600 at core locations and i4600 units at branch offices to balance performance and cost-effectiveness.

Key Differentiators:

1. Performance: i5600 handles 2x more traffic

2. Scalability: Better growth potential

3. Features: More advanced capabilities

4. Cost: i4600 provides better value for mid-range needs

Both deliver F5's proven ADC technology, with the i5600 offering superior performance for enterprise-scale deployments and the i4600 providing excellent value for mid-range requirements.