F5 BIG-IP i7820-DF vs i4600: Enterprise-Grade vs Mid-Range Application Delivery Controller Comparison

When selecting between F5 Networks' application delivery controllers, the BIG-IP i7820-DF (high-performance model) and BIG-IP i4600 (mid-range solution) offer distinct capabilities for different network environments. This detailed comparison examines their technical specifications, operational performance, and ideal deployment scenarios to assist network architects in making informed decisions.

Technical Specifications Comparison

The i7820-DF delivers 3x greater performance in throughput and connection handling compared to the i4600, making it ideal for large-scale enterprise deployments.

Functional Capabilities Analysis

1. Core ADC Features

Both models support:

• Layer 4-7 load balancing

• SSL/TLS offloading

• Application health monitoring

• Web application firewall

• DNS load balancing

i7820-DF Advantages:

• Higher connection capacity (3M vs 1M)

• Advanced traffic shaping

• Better SSL inspection performance

• Enhanced DDoS protection

i4600 Strengths:

• More power-efficient

• Compact 1RU form factor

• Cost-effective for mid-range needs

2. Security & Traffic Management

• i7820-DF 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:

• i7820-DF:

• 2RU enterprise design

• Redundant power supplies

• 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:

• i7820-DF: 2RU, 24" deep

• i4600: 1RU, 17.5" deep

• Weight:

• i7820-DF: 35 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:

• i7820-DF 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:

• i7820-DF: 85,000−100,000

• i4600: 35,000−45,000

Operational Expenditures:

• Power consumption difference: ~$200/year

• Rack space requirements:

• i7820-DF needs 2x more space

• Support contracts:

• Similar licensing models

Five-Year TCO Considerations:

• i7820-DF 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:

• i7820-DF: 400W (peak)

• i4600: 220W (peak)

Efficiency Comparison:

• Performance per watt:

• i7820-DF: 150 Mbps/W

• i4600: 90 Mbps/W

• Idle power draw:

• i7820-DF: 250W

• i4600: 120W

Compatibility & Expansion

Third-Party Integration:
Both support:

• VMware, KVM, Hyper-V

• Cloud platforms

• Automation tools

i7820-DF 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:

• i7820-DF prioritized for:

• Cloud ADC features

• Enhanced analytics

• i4600 receives:

• Core updates

• Security patches

Final Recommendation

Choose i7820-DF When:
✔ Handling 3M+ connections
✔ Need 60G+ 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 i7820-DF 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 i7820-DF at core locations and i4600 units at branch offices or DR sites to balance performance and cost-effectiveness.