3Com, F5 Collaborate to Deliver Enterprise E-Networks

In a agreement that will result in products for LAN and WAN server load balancing to reduce slow Web-related e-commerce activities, 3Com (Santa Clara, CA) has licensed technology from F5 Networks Inc., a provider of Internet traffic management products. F5 Networks, a Seattle-based startup, has developed products that help to cut down network congestion by distributing data evenly among servers, so no one machine is overloaded. With F5 Networks' technology, 3Com's high-end enterprise system, the CoreBuilder 9000 switch, can help large corporations monitor and balance Web traffic in a local and wide area networks.

Situated between the network routers and server array, the BIG/ip controller continually monitors each of the local servers to ensure they are available and performing correctly, then it automatically routes incoming Internet and Intranet service requests to the most available server.

Under the terms of the agreement, effective immediately 3Com will begin to offer F5 Networks' Internet traffic management products as separate, standalone devices. These products include: the BIG/ip Controller, to introduce a high availability, intelligent load-balancing device for its enterprise customers, and the 3DNS Controller to ensure consistent performance in all associated Internet Websites—regardless of their location. 3Com eventually intends to integrate F5 Networks' BIG/ip and 3DNS software onto modules for the CoreBuilder 9000 family of switches. The new modules are targeted for first customer shipment next year.

Small firms, such as F5 Networks, Alteon WebSystems (San Jose, CA), and ArrowPoint Communications (Westford, MA), have created a new market niche for Web switching devices. With demand for these devices is expected to grow rapidly, 3Com is looking for a way to offer the technology to its customers. Due to the combined security, performance, and high-availability of the integrated product lines, the new relationship with F5 Networks also is expected to open additional opportunities for 3Com in future CoreBuilder 9000 switch installations with ISPs, application service providers, Web-hosting and portal providers.

F5 Networks also has resale and OEM relationships with Cabletron Systems (Rochester, NH) and Extreme Networks (Cupertino, CA).