FAQ Managed Load Balancer F5 BIG IP 1600 and 3600 Devices End-of-Live and End-of-Vendor Support (EVS)

Updated by Lyza Latham on Jul 02, 2019
Article Code: kb/1236

Frequently Asked Questions for Managed Load Balancer F5 BIG IP 1600 and 3600 Devices End-of-Live and End-of-Vendor Support (EVS)

As a service provider, Lumen continuously evaluates and updates its product catalog in order to provide competitive services. This includes the offerings from third-party vendors that are the basis for or Components of Lumen products. For our Managed Load Balancer service, certain models of the F5 Big IP Local Traffic Manager are currently End-of-Sale and will go End-of-Vendor Support (EVS) on 10/1/2021.

The specific models affected are: BIG IP 1600 and 3600 LTM.

We realize that transitioning to a new hardware platform may create an inconvenience for Customers, which is why we're committed to supporting affected Customers through a product transition and making that experience as seamless as possible.

FAQ

Q: What other services are being discontinued?

A: None at this time. The only services affected are those that rely on F5 Big IP Local Traffic Managers BIG IP 1600 and 3600 LTM, which are part of the Lumen Managed Load Balancer service.

Q: What do End-of-Sale and End of Vendor Support (EVS) mean?

A: End-of-Sale status means that the vendor, in this instance F5, has suspended any future sale of the product. EVS means that the vendor will discontinue all support of the product including software patches, bug and security fixes, and will no longer supply hardware replacements.

Q: How will I know if my Managed Load Balancer services are impacted by this announcement?

A: Notifications will be sent to all affected Lumen Customers informing them of the End-of-Sale / EVS status of these components. The associated CSP or Sales representative will also be notified, so they will be ready to work with Customers on transition planning.

Q: What options does Lumen provide as a comparable service?

A: Lumen will continue to offer the Managed Load Balancer service, updated to include the latest F5 LTM hardware. Specifically, customers will now have the option of selecting either a BIG IP i2600, i2800, i4600 or i4800 LTM. The latest versions of the F5 BIG IP LTM’s offer double the throughput, greater SSL TPS, higher bulk encryption capabilities, both 1Gb and 10Gb interfaces and double the memory per device. For more information about device availability, please view the Managed Load Balancer Devices page.

To further explore Lumen’s new Managed Load Balancer options, please contact your CSP or Sales Representative. If you’re not sure who to contact, please reach out to managedserviceslifecycle@centurylink.com for assistance.

Q: If the EVS isn’t until October 2021, why make this announcement now?

A: Lumen realizes there are long lead times required when planning the upgrade or replacement of any hardware platform. By announcing this now, we hope to allow sufficient time to discuss, plan and replace any load balancers well before EVS occurs. Your Lumen CSP or Sales representative can assist you in this process and help with the selection of the appropriate replacement product.

Q: How quickly do Customers need to act?

A: It is recommended that you begin exploring options as soon as possible and plan accordingly. Early discussions and planning allow you to manage the timing of a hardware migration that best meets your business needs.

Q: What if customers have more questions?

A: Customers are encouraged to contact your CSP or Sales Representative. If you are not sure who to contact, please reach out to managedserviceslifecycle@centurylink.com for assistance.