F5 BIG-LTM 10000S vs. F5 BIG-LTM 3400: A Technical Showdown for Scalable Load Balancing

Jun 27 , 2025 2

F5 BIG-LTM 10000S vs. F5 BIG-LTM 3400: A Technical Showdown for Scalable Load Balancing

Enterprises face growing demands for high-performance application delivery, but choosing between F5’s BIG-LTM 10000S and BIG-LTM 3400 hinges on balancing cost, scalability, and feature requirements. Here’s a detailed comparison to guide your decision.

1. Core Functionalities

Both platforms excel in traffic management and security, but their strengths differ based on use cases:

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• Enterprise-Scale Load Balancing: Engineered for large data centers with extreme traffic demands (e.g., e-commerce, media streaming).

• Advanced Protocol Support: Handles HTTP/2, WebSocket, and SIP for modern apps.

• Multi-Tenancy: Isolated partitions for secure service delivery across departments or clients.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• Mid-Sized Deployment Optimization: Cost-effective for SMBs or branch offices needing reliable load balancing.

• SSL/TLS Offloading: Accelerates encrypted traffic with dedicated crypto acceleration (supports up to 10Gbps SSL throughput).

• Edge Computing Readiness: Native integration with F5’s Distributed Cloud services for hybrid architectures.

2. Performance Benchmarks

3. Design & Aesthetics

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• Rack-Mountable 2U Form Factor: Designed for data center or carrier-grade environments.

• Redundant Power Supplies: Ensures 99.999% uptime with hot-swappable components.

• Modular Expansion Slots: Supports up to 16 100GbE ports for future-proofing.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• 1U Compact Design: Ideal for edge deployments or consolidated server racks.

• Fanless Operation: Reduces noise and maintenance overhead in quiet environments.

• Fixed Configuration: Simplifies setup with pre-integrated 10GbE ports.

4. User Experience

• Management Interface:

• Both offer intuitive GUI (F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility) and CLI.

• BIG-LTM 10000S Adds: Dedicated DPI policy wizards and multi-tenant dashboards.

• Automation:

• BIG-LTM 3400: Tighter integration with Ansible/Terraform for DevOps workflows.

• BIG-LTM 10000S: Advanced scripting tools for custom traffic shaping rules.

5. Pricing Structure

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• List Price: 50,000–70,000.

• ROI: Best for enterprises prioritizing long-term scalability and carrier-grade redundancy.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• List Price: 10,000–15,000.

• Ideal For: Mid-sized data centers seeking a balance of performance and cost-effectiveness.

6. Battery Consumption

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• Higher power draw (~1,500W) due to redundant components and modular design.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• Lower power consumption (~450W) thanks to fixed configurations and fanless operation.

7. Compatibility & Scalability

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• Supports up to 64x 100GbE ports and 256GB RAM, scalable via expansion modules.

• Works with F5’s Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) and SD-WAN solutions.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• Limited to 4x 10GbE ports and 16GB RAM, though expandable with inline acceleration cards.

• Optimized for VMware NSX and AWS Outposts deployments.

8. Software Ecosystem

• BIG-LTM 10000S:

• Runs TMOS 17.x with advanced DPI and multi-tenancy features.

• Annual updates focused on carrier-grade enhancements.

• BIG-LTM 3400:

• TMOS 16.x with streamlined app delivery and security profiles.

• Priority access to F5’s Distributed Cloud integrations (e.g., SaaS security).

Final Verdict

• Choose BIG-LTM 10000S If:
  You manage high-bandwidth, multi-tenant environments (e.g., ISPs, cloud providers) requiring advanced DPI and future scalability.

• Choose BIG-LTM 3400 If:
  Your focus is on optimizing mid-sized data center app performance with a balance of speed, security, and cost efficiency.

Pro Tip: For organizations transitioning to edge computing, the 10000S’s 5G/MEC readiness could justify the higher upfront cost.