F5 BIG-IP i5800 vs i4600: High-Performance vs Mid-Range ADC Face-Off

When evaluating F5 Networks' application delivery controllers, the BIG-IP i5800 (high-performance model) and BIG-IP i4600 (mid-range solution) cater to different network requirements. This comprehensive comparison examines their technical specifications, operational capabilities, and ideal deployment scenarios to help network professionals make informed decisions.

Technical Specifications Comparison

The i5800 delivers 2x the performance of the i4600 across key metrics, making it suitable for demanding enterprise environments.

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

i5800 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

• i5800 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:

• i5800:

• 2RU enterprise design

• Redundant power options

• High-density connectivity

• 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:

• i5800: 2RU, 24" deep

• i4600: 1RU, 17.5" deep

• Weight:

• i5800: 32 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:

• i5800 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:

• i5800: 65,000−80,000

• i4600: 35,000−45,000

Operational Expenditures:

• Power consumption difference: ~$150/year

• Rack space requirements:

• i5800 needs 2x more space

• Support contracts:

• Similar licensing models

Five-Year TCO Considerations:

• i5800 justified for:

• High-traffic websites

• Financial services

• Cloud-scale ADC needs

• i4600 economical for:

• Medium business applications

• Branch office deployments

• Cost-sensitive projects

Power Efficiency Metrics

Energy Usage:

• i5800: 350W (peak)

• i4600: 220W (peak)

Efficiency Comparison:

• Performance per watt:

• i5800: 114 Mbps/W

• i4600: 90 Mbps/W

• Idle power draw:

• i5800: 200W

• i4600: 120W

Compatibility & Expansion

Third-Party Integration:
Both support:

• VMware, KVM, Hyper-V

• Cloud platforms

• Automation tools

i5800 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:

• i5800 prioritized for:

• Cloud ADC features

• Enhanced analytics

• i4600 receives:

• Core updates

• Security patches

Final Recommendation

Choose i5800 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

Both deliver F5's proven ADC technology, with the i5800 offering superior performance for enterprise-scale deployments and the i4600 providing excellent value for mid-range needs.

Implementation Strategy:
For organizations with mixed requirements, consider deploying i5800 at core locations and i4600 units at branch offices to balance performance and cost-effectiveness.