F5 Networks and Inktomi Launch Strategic Alliance to Deliver Industry
Leading Platforms for Internet Traffic and Content Management
Joint solution integrates Inktomi and F5 products to improve content
flow across the Internet and enterprise networks
SEATTLE & FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2001--
F5 Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFIV), the leading provider of Internet
traffic and content management (iTCM) products, and Inktomi Corp.
(Nasdaq:INKT), developer of scalable Internet infrastructure software,
today announced a strategic alliance to deliver high-performance
platforms for the distribution, delivery and control of traffic,
content and applications.
Through this alliance, F5 will integrate Inktomi(R) Traffic
Server(R) network cache and Traffic Server(R) Media-IXT(TM) software
within its EDGE-FX(TM) Cache family of products. These integrated
appliances will enable enterprises and service providers to scale
their network infrastructure and optimize performance by improving the
flow of content, including streaming and dynamic media, across the
Internet and enterprise networks.
"Inktomi's proven caching and streaming media software integrates
perfectly into F5's award-winning suite of iTCM products," said Jeff
Pancottine, senior vice-president of marketing and business
development at F5 Networks. "The new caching products will snap
readily into F5's Internet Control Architecture and, when deployed
with our high-performance iTCM products, will offer customers
market-leading functionality and superior performance for managing all
aspects of Internet traffic and content delivery."
Under terms of the alliance, Inktomi software and F5's products
will be tightly integrated through F5's iControl API (Application
Program Interface). This interoperability will enable intelligent
cooperation between the Inktomi Traffic Server solutions and F5's iTCM
products. For example, iControl API will tightly integrate Traffic
Server software with F5's BIG-IP(R) Controller to create one of the
highest performing cache clustering solutions. Cache clustering helps
maximize cache server scalability and reliability and allows network
administrators to remove caches from the network, without disrupting
service. Additionally, Inktomi and F5 will collaborate on joint sales
and marketing programs to deploy edge-to-edge content delivery
solutions at enterprises and service providers that need to scale
their Web infrastructure and optimize network performance.
"Today's announcement further demonstrates that Inktomi software
is fast becoming an essential ingredient for leading networking and
server platforms," said Ted Hally, senior vice president and general
manager, Content Networking Solutions Group at Inktomi. "The
integration of Inktomi Internet infrastructure software with F5's
Internet Control Architecture will provide companies with
easy-to-install platforms for faster access to content while reducing
bandwidth costs and offloading network management resources."
F5 Networks' Added-Value
In addition to the feature-rich capabilities of the Inktomi
Traffic Server solutions, F5 will be adding new features to EDGE-FX,
including Bandwidth Policy Management and DNS Caching to help
customers gain better control over network management and costs. The
F5 Bandwidth Policy Management feature enables enterprises to limit
the rate of traffic flow through EDGE-FX, freeing it to serve as a
policy enforcement point. The F5 DNS Caching feature enables EDGE-FX
to proxy/cache DNS requests to an upstream DNS server or F5's 3-DNS
global load balancer -- a cost-effective solution for enterprises that
don't want to deploy and manage an extra DNS server.
EDGE-FX will also be tightly integrated with F5's 3-DNS(R)
Controller, GLOBAL-SITE(TM) Controller and SEE-IT(TM) Network Manager.
The EDGE-FX products will provide superior performance on their own,
but will offer even greater value when deployed as an integrated
component with one or more of F5's iTCM products. Integration
highlights include: EDGE-FX integration with 3-DNS. Provides
intelligent global load balancing of cache servers and high
availability through network and site/cluster monitoring; directs
users to the closest or best cluster of cached site; assists in
disaster recovery for origin and edge sites with redundant site
management.
EDGE-FX integration with GLOBAL-SITE. Improves response time by
pre-populating cache servers using GLOBAL-SITE; maintains content and
application freshness on both web and cache servers.
EDGE-FX integration with SEE-IT. Offers better network monitoring,
reporting, and trend analysis; schedule and manage log files for
report generation and utilization with 3rd-party web trending and log
analysis tools.
Pricing and Availability
The new EDGE-FX Cache platforms will be available in Q2 of 2001.
Mid-range prices start at $9,990.
About Inktomi
Based in Foster City, Calif., Inktomi develops and markets
scalable infrastructure software that is essential to the
Internet(sm). Inktomi's business is divided into Content Networking
Solutions, comprised of industry leading solutions for network
caching, content distribution, and media broadcasting; Search
Solutions, which include general web search and related services and
enterprise search; and Wireless technologies. Inktomi's customer and
strategic partner base includes leading companies such as America
Online, AT&T, Compaq, Excite@Home, Hewlett-Packard Company, Intel,
iWon, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, Nokia, Sun Microsystems and Yahoo! The
company has offices in North America, Asia and Europe. For more
information, visit inktomi.com.
About F5 Networks
F5 Networks is the leader in Internet Traffic and Content
Management (iTCM), and delivers application aware networks through its
open Internet Control Architecture. F5 features the industry's leading
set of integrated products and services that manage, control and
optimize Internet traffic and content. Our solutions automatically and
intelligently deliver the best possible Internet performance,
availability and content distribution for service providers,
enterprises and e-businesses. Our products remove bandwidth congestion
and optimize the availability and speed of mission-critical Internet
servers and applications, including web publishing, content delivery,
e-commerce, caching, firewalls and more. Our solutions are widely
deployed in large enterprises, the top service providers, financial
institutions, government agencies, healthcare, and portals throughout
the world. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and
has offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. F5
Networks is located on the web at www.f5.com.
This press release may contain forward looking statements relating
to future events or future financial performance that involve risks
and uncertainties. Such statements can be identified by terminology
such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the
negative of such terms or comparable terms. These statements are only
predictions and actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these statements based upon a number of factors
including those identified in each of the Company's filings with the
SEC.
Copyright (c) 2001 INKTOMI CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.
Inktomi, Traffic Server, Media-IXT, Essential to the Internet and the
tri-colored cube design are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Inktomi Corporation in the United States and other countries.
# # #
Robert J. Chamberlain, Chief Financial Officer
F5 Networks
206/272-5555 |
