F5 BIG-IQ Reviews

F5 BIG-IQ pricing is perceived as reasonable, with some users wishing for lower costs. Licensing fees generally depend on the number of devices, with an annual subscription fee required for the iSeries. While some experience all-in-one pricing, others note that they are not directly involved in cost management, indicating that product managers usually handle it. Enterprises find the solution affordable, though a clearer understanding of cost breakdown would be beneficial for some.

• "Users have to pay an annual subscription fee for the solution's iSeries."
• "F5 BIG-IQ is a cheap solution."
• "There is only one licensing fee for F5 BIG-IQ and everything is included in the price."

Organizations primarily use F5 BIG-IQ for internet-facing web application security, web application firewalls, and managing F5 appliances. It's deployed on-premises and in the cloud, offering features like centralized management, load balancing, SSL handling, and statistics monitoring. Users implement it for device management, logging, backups, application monitoring, and configuring F5 BIG-IP vault management. It assists in tasks such as software upgrades and policy migration, helping entities manage multiple data centers efficiently.

F5 BIG-IQ's customer service and support receive high praise for expertise and responsiveness. Users appreciate knowledgeable and supportive technical teams across different regions, including Qatar and Vietnam. Some users have had limited interaction due to infrequent issues. Ratings range from seven to eight out of ten, highlighting satisfaction with the assistance provided. Overall, the support is characterized by a helpful attitude and commitment to resolving problems effectively, making it a well-regarded service among users.

F5 BIG-IQ's initial setup varied in complexity. Some found it straightforward, aided by an auto-configuration link, while others encountered challenges, especially during migrations or integrating multiple modules. Deploying in cloud environments like Hyper-V and Citrix posed difficulties, whereas VMware proved effective. Knowledge of Linux was essential for initial configurations, adding complexity for those with a Windows background. Deployment times ranged from hours to months, depending on requirements.

F5 BIG-IQ offers excellent scalability, allowing configuration movement between environments and supporting virtualization. It easily integrates new units into clusters and scales up to 30 instances. Scalability effectiveness varies based on chosen versions, catering to medium to large organizations. While certain limitations exist in on-premise platforms, F5 BIG-IQ generally provides easy expansion capabilities, especially with Viprion appliances, supporting a diverse user base. Its management capabilities are beneficial in environments with multiple devices.

Users highlight excellent reliability and everyday use without issues, except during upgrades. F5 BIG-IQ is described as not crashing or having glitches, with reliability prioritizing high CPU usage with many operations. While some mention stability improvements are necessary, especially compared to F5 BIG-IP, others emphasize high stability and a strong release. Generally, experiences vary with some rating stability highly, despite newer product challenges.