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F5 Solution Accelerates SAP Applications at World-Class Research University

Pohang University of Science and Technology uses F5's BIG-IP solution to increase staff efficiency and protect sensitive student information; Consolidation of network functionality reduces management overhead and capital costs

SEATTLE, June 9, 2008 - F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Delivery Networking, today announced that Korea's leading research university, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), has chosen to optimize its application delivery infrastructure by implementing an F5® Application Delivery Network.

POSTECH's previous set of point solutions no longer met its needs, and the institution was looking for an intelligent, adaptable system to secure and optimize application delivery. The university also wanted to improve provisioning and configuration management efficiency.

POSTECH selected the F5 BIG-IP® Local Traffic Manager™ (LTM™) with Application Security Manager™ solution. As a result of implementing F5 technology, POSTECH is able to deliver its SAP applications, web mail, and website with the high levels of speed, availability, and security required by a world-class university. In addition, POSTECH networking professionals are able to manage, secure, and optimize SAP applications in the most efficient manner with the help of F5's Application Ready Network (ARN) best-practice deployment and operations guidelines.

"BIG-IP LTM has helped to ensure high availability, load balancing, and accelerated application delivery at POSTECH," said Ki-jong Kim, IT Department Manager at POSTECH. "We are now able to operate our existing application servers in a stable, secure, and efficient manner." Other specific benefits include:

  • Simplified administration and lower operational costs
  • 98% fewer server-side TCP connections, enabling server consolidation and reducing CapEx
  • Increased SAP ERP application availability and scalability
  • Enhanced security for SAP login and personal information page updates via SSL

"F5's ARN guidelines and best practices have undergone rigorous testing and validation to ensure that large institutions like POSTECH are getting the most out of their SAP environments," said Jason Needham, Sr. Director of Product Management at F5. "F5's powerful combination of advanced technology and well-documented best practices has significantly enhanced POSTECH's application delivery infrastructure, enabling it to optimize application security, performance, and efficiency."

POSTECH is currently using the BIG-IP solution for L7 switching functionality, SSL acceleration, application health checking, network firewall, web application firewall, web acceleration, and customizable iRules® capabilities. The institution is also planning to deploy additional security devices, such as an SSL VPN appliance to protect against growing security/access threats, and QoS technology to ensure reliable application and network availability.

About POSTECH

POSTECH strives to continue growing into a world-class research university, specializing in core areas of science and technology. POSTECH maintains and fosters its distinction as a research university of intensive education for a small but select group of students, maintaining its qualitative excellence in education and research. POSTECH's goals are to focus on two to three core areas of research, produce creative and progressive leaders in science and technology, and contribute to Korea's national economic development through close cooperation with industries. For more information, visit www.postech.ac.kr/e.

About F5 Networks

F5 Networks is the global leader in Application Delivery Networking. F5 provides solutions that make applications secure, fast, and available for everyone. By adding intelligence and manageability into the network to offload applications and optimize the data storage layer, F5 extends the power of intelligent networking to all levels of application delivery. F5's extensible architecture intelligently integrates application optimization, protects the application and the network, and delivers application reliability. Over 16,000 organizations and service providers worldwide trust F5 to keep their applications running. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices worldwide. For more information, go to www.f5.com.

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Press Contacts
Alane Moran
F5 Networks, Inc.
(206) 272-6850
a.moran@f5.com		 Holly Hagerman
Connect Public Relations
(801) 373-7888
hollyh@connectpr.com

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