Envoy vs F5 BIG-IP: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare the key differences between Envoy and F5 BIG-IP. Both Envoy and F5 BIG-IP are popular solutions for load balancing and proxying. However, there are several distinct features that set them apart from each other. Let's explore these differences in detail.

1. Deployment Model: Envoy is commonly used as a sidecar proxy, meaning it runs alongside a service to provide proxying and load balancing functionality. On the other hand, F5 BIG-IP is typically deployed as a dedicated network appliance, providing load balancing, security, and application acceleration features.

2. Platform Support: Envoy is designed to be a cloud-native solution and has excellent support for containerized environments, including Kubernetes. It is also platform-agnostic and can be deployed on various operating systems. F5 BIG-IP, on the other hand, is primarily focused on traditional on-premises deployments and provides extensive support for a wide range of hardware platforms.

3. Configuration Approach: Envoy utilizes a declarative configuration approach, where the desired state of the proxy is defined and the management server converges the proxy to the desired state. This allows for dynamic and automated configuration updates. In contrast, F5 BIG-IP relies on a more traditional imperative configuration approach, where configurations are made directly to the devices through a management interface.

4. Flexibility and Extensibility: Envoy is known for its flexibility and extensibility. It offers an extensive plugin architecture and supports a wide range of filters and extensions that can be customized to meet specific requirements. F5 BIG-IP also provides extensibility through iRules, which allow custom scripting of traffic policies, but it may have limitations compared to the versatility of Envoy's plugin system.

5. Community and Open Source: Envoy has a thriving open-source community, with regular contributions from various organizations and individuals. This active community fosters continuous development and innovation. F5 BIG-IP, on the other hand, is a proprietary solution with a more limited open-source ecosystem.

6. Pricing and Licensing: Envoy is open-source and available under the Apache License 2.0, making it a cost-effective option for many organizations. F5 BIG-IP, being a commercial product, requires a license to use and is usually associated with higher costs.

In summary, Envoy and F5 BIG-IP differ in their deployment models, platform support, configuration approaches, flexibility and extensibility, community involvement, and pricing and licensing. These differences allow organizations to choose the solution that best fits their specific needs and requirements.