SEATTLE -- F5 Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFIV - News), the global leader of Application Traffic Management products, today announced an enhanced DevCentral site (http://devcentral.f5.com/) featuring the introduction of F5's revolutionary iRules. With the latest release of its BIG-IP® product, F5 has taken a significant step forward with its unique iControl® API (Application Programming Interface) and iRules capabilities to help enterprise customers and partners realize increased datacenter automation, while also delivering unprecedented control over IP application flows. iRules, which are customizable commands that leverage the power of the BIG-IP product's Traffic Management Operating System (TM/OS), give customers complete control over how the BIG-IP system processes application traffic. F5's continued investment in DevCentral underscores the company's commitment to assist F5's technical community as they extend and customize F5 solutions using iControl and iRules to meet their specific needs.

Delivered in conjunction with the BIG-IP system, iRules allow developers and network professionals the ability to create and customize policies that provide direct, granular control over how BIG-IP directs application traffic -- at any moment within the application transaction or flow. Based on a proven programming language (Tool Command Language, TCL), iRules can be applied to any IP application or protocol, enabling new degrees of application optimization and security. Further, iRules can be invoked and manipulated via F5's unique iControl web services API, allowing the network to do things that previously required changes in applications.

F5's DevCentral site is the only resource of its kind that caters to a progressive cross section of the IT community, spanning network professionals, application architects and developers who want to ensure that enterprise applications work in concert with the network. Launched in 2003, DevCentral has proven to be a valuable resource for a rapidly growing community of over 1,500 developers worldwide by providing extensive technical tips and examples, a discussion forum, and free downloads. DevCentral now incorporates support for iRules to provide the same advanced level of education, assistance, and collaboration already offered for iControl.

"As a professional developer building solutions for leading enterprises, I rely on innovative technology and helpful tools and resources to deliver the best solution in the fastest manner," says Phil Snell, Managing Director of Limbo Creatives based in the UK. "F5's iControl provides the technology that helps us develop solutions that automate time consuming network tasks. DevCentral provides us with technical resources, real world samples, and a lively forum in which to post questions for a global community comprised of leading iControl developers. The result is revolutionary solutions to common challenges that deliver the best value for my customers."

F5 Networks Inc.