F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs OpenVPN Access Server comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) and OpenVPN Access Server based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs. OpenVPN Access Server Report (Updated: March 2023).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"We plan to create packages of services from which it will be possible to build comprehensive tailor-made solutions.""it has TCP LAN and WAN optimization features. It has has caching.""Currently, it's distributing the load perfectly, as per my understanding of our requirements.""NetFlow balancing and traffic balancing are good features.""I've worked a little bit with iRules and it is amazing.""It has helped a lot to protect our organization from external attacks, especially XSS or XSRF types of attacks.""It is an easy way to build application policies (graphical).""Bandwidth optimization and capacity awareness of the bandwidth are valuable features. Its video streaming capabilities are also very useful."

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"The most valuable thing about OpenVPN Access Server is its ease of use.""The product provides secure internet connections and helps with faster downloads.""The most valuable features of the OpenVPN Access Server are the ease of use and integration with different platforms, such as Android and Windows. I can use the solution on my desktop and mobile devices. Additionally, the solution is secure.""I like that it's easy to use, easy to download, and not hard to manage.""I would recommend this solution to other people.""It can scale well.""I like that it's free.""Provides privacy and cryptography for my network communication."

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Cons
"Currently, the product offers everything we need. I can't recall any features that may be lacking.""The user interface could be improved in F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager.""F5 could improve the rule-setting capabilities in the GUI, and they need to simplify web management. For example, the menus in the Citrix GUI are easier to navigate, with a clean structure and layout.""If they made it easier for engineers to get F5 training then it would be better.""The price for F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager is very high. This aspect could be improved.""An area for improvement in F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is that it's a high-priced product.""Not everything is intuitive.""I used GitHub for autoscaling CloudFormation, and I found two bugs and I submitted them. Their implementation in GitHub could be cleaner and allow for a bit more customization."

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"We occasionally have internet issues which affect stability.""This solution should improve the connection speed and the user interface. The stability of this solution should be improved as well.""OpenVPN Access Server needs to have fewer updates.""It would be nice with all these features, if they could send some examples of each one; just small sample scripts to look at and say, "Oh okay, I could expand on this." That would help us a lot.""The security needs to be improved because it was a complaint that our customers had.""​There was one annoying feature where we had to disable and enable the user. I cannot remember what it was exactly, but I think it was for a password lockout. It would be nice if there was a checkbox, or something, in the web interface to allow you to unlock a user whose password was locked.""Working on a faster connection might be a good idea for the product's next release.""I would be more happy with the idea of licensing to have a reduced price with longer, grouped, annual fees. We have a lot of other software that does the same thing. It's a little higher price if you're going with a shorter stint, but there's a reduction in price for three- and five-year contracts."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Though functionality is high, its cost can be considered slightly higher than its competitors​."
  • "The licensing pricing seems relatively easy enough to get your head around. I would advise anyone to ensure that you have a conversation with an F5 consultant before purchasing, as you would with most products."
  • "Take a look at the modules that you are going to use. Look into the best bundles for them."
  • "The only area that has room for improvement would be pricing, so its competitors do not have a say."
  • "If your IT budget is good, go for it."
  • "This product is costly from a licensing perspective considering its competitors."
  • "Check other vendors like Cisco, Citrix or A10 Networks. There are plenty in the market with which you can achieve same thing."
  • "Great product for the money. But they can get really expensive, so get what meets your needs."
  • More F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "It is free, you buy support."
  • "The Pro Edition has a reasonable price per user."
  • "I would say the product's pricing is a good value. I would recommend to other companies to implement it. I've seen other software, in tandem with the service, to be very expensive."
  • "The product's pricing is good value, definitely. It is one of the best features, I would say. Evaluate the product before seeing which type of licensing is good for you. I think there is a good evaluation method available for OpenVPN, so you can just evaluate if it meets your needs. Then go forward with the right licensing policy."
  • "Begin with the community version and upgrade to paid one if the need arises."
  • "At one point I had to purchase addition connection licenses. I was very pleased with the pricing and licensing; so much easier than navigating the confusing jungle of Microsoft and Cisco licensing and pricing. That alone made the product a delight to manage."
  • "With regard to setup cost, pricing and/or licensing, the simple answer is that you'll need to set aside some time to learn it and experiment with it."
  • "It is an open-source solution, so we don't pay for anything."
  • More OpenVPN Access Server Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The support from F5 BIG-IP LTM is good.
    Top Answer:There are a few licensing options available for F5 BIG-IP LTM. You can have a perpetual license which is a lifetime license. You then only need to renew the support, if you choose to open a ticket… more »
    Top Answer:The pricing must be more flexible. We get billed for firewalls based on the usage. It will be helpful if the solution provides such flexibility.
    Top Answer:Fortinet FortiClient is a feature-rich solution that is easy to use and deploy without sacrificing safety and security. It has a very fast connection rate and has a built-in VPN. With this solution… more »
    Top Answer:The most valuable thing about OpenVPN Access Server is its ease of use.
    Top Answer:Licensing for OpenVPN is generally hassle-free. Server-side access is usually included, and there is flexibility with features. I haven't encountered licensing issues on the user side either, as… more »
    Ranking
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    8,912
    Reviews
    30
    Average Words per Review
    483
    Rating
    8.3
    Views
    16,498
    Comparisons
    13,961
    Reviews
    29
    Average Words per Review
    281
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    F5 BIG-IP, BIG-IP LTM, F5 ASM, Viprion, F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition , Crescendo Networks Application Delivery Controller, BIG IP
    OpenVPN
    Learn More
    Overview

    F5 BIG-IP LTM optimizes the speed and reliability of your apps via both network and application layers. Using real-time protocol and traffic management decisions based on app and server and connection management conditions, and TCP and content offloading, BIG-IP LTM dramatically improves application and infrastructure responsiveness. BIG-IP LTM's architecture includes protocol awareness to control traffic for the most important applications. BIG-IP LTM tracks the dynamic performance levels of servers and delivers SSL performance and visibility for inbound and outbound traffic, to protect the user experience by encrypting everything from the client to the server.

    BIG-IP LTM provides enterprise-class Application Delivery Controller (ADC). You get granular layer 7 control, SSL offloading and acceleration capabilities, and advanced scaling technologies that deliver performance and reliability on-demand. The highly optimized TCP/IP stack combines TCP/IP techniques and improvements in the latest RFCs with extensions to minimize the effect of congestion and packet loss and recovery. Independent testing tools and customer experiences show LTM's TCP stack delivers up to a 2x performance gain for users and a 4x increase in bandwidth efficiency.

    OpenVPN Access Server is a comprehensive VPN solution that enables secure remote access and site-to-site connectivity. It uses the open-source OpenVPN protocol with added encryption and authentication for robust security. The web-based admin interface simplifies setup and centralized management of users, devices, and access controls.

    OpenVPN Access Server's ease of setup, comprehensive security features, and professional support make it a viable option for businesses looking to facilitate secure remote access and inter-office connectivity. However, potential users should be mindful of the technical requirements for setup and the possibility of network performance issues in specific scenarios.

    Based on over 30 independent peer reviews, OpenVPN garners consistently positive feedback for its stability, security, and free open-source licensing. The most common complaints relate to initial setup complexity and occasional connection drops. Despite these drawbacks, most reviewers highly recommend OpenVPN Access Server due to its robust encryption standards, flexible access options, and scalability across organization sizes.

    Versatile Installation and Client Support:

    • OpenVPN Access Server can be installed on various Linux OS platforms, offering flexibility to adapt to different network environments. This includes popular distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
    • OpenVPN Access Server supports a comprehensive range of VPN clients, ensuring broad compatibility and user accessibility. This includes clients for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, enabling users to connect securely from various devices.

    User Authentication and Security:

    • OpenVPN Access Server incorporates a built-in user authentication system, which can be managed via a web-based interface. This allows administrators to manage user accounts, passwords, and access permissions easily.
    • For enhanced security, OpenVPN Access Server supports integration with external authentication systems like PAM, LDAP, RADIUS, and SAML. This allows you to leverage your existing authentication infrastructure for VPN access.
    • The solution provides the flexibility to implement custom Python programming for advanced authentication methods, catering to specific security requirements.
    • OpenVPN Access Server utilizes the OpenVPN protocol, renowned for its robust encryption and security. VPN tunnels are secured with TLS authentication, credentials, certificates, and optional MAC address lock, ensuring a high level of protection for data transmission.

    Flexible Access Control and Tunneling Options:

    • OpenVPN Access Server provides comprehensive access control rules, allowing administrators to specify user or group access to IP addresses and subnets. This enables granular control over network access and resource utilization.
    • OpenVPN Access Server supports both full-tunnel and split-tunnel redirection. Full-tunnel mode routes all VPN client internet traffic through the VPN tunnel, while split-tunnel mode allows selective routing of specific traffic.

    OpenVPN offers professional support for Access Server, with a global team of experts available through an online ticket system. This ensures that users have timely access to assistance when needed.

    Sample Customers
    Riken, TransUnion, Tepco Systems Administration, Daejeon University, G&T Bank, Danamon, CyberAgent Inc.
    Verizon, Amazon, Disney, HP, Microsoft, IBM, Samsung
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider20%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Media Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm17%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Government9%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider25%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Educational Organization13%
    Computer Software Company13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Comms Service Provider12%
    Educational Organization7%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business18%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise68%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business57%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise26%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise52%
    Buyer's Guide
    F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs. OpenVPN Access Server
    March 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs. OpenVPN Access Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2023.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is ranked 1st in Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) with 116 reviews while OpenVPN Access Server is ranked 1st in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN with 43 reviews. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is rated 8.2, while OpenVPN Access Server is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) writes "Helps deliver applications to users in a reliable, secure, and optimized way". On the other hand, the top reviewer of OpenVPN Access Server writes "An easy-to-use tool with which its users can access networks from home or external locations". F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is most compared with Citrix NetScaler, Fortinet FortiADC, Microsoft Azure Application Gateway, NGINX Plus and Barracuda Load Balancer ADC, whereas OpenVPN Access Server is most compared with Fortinet FortiClient, Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client, Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway, Check Point Remote Access VPN and Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks. See our F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) vs. OpenVPN Access Server report.

    We monitor all Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.