I've said it before, and I'll say it again: a major pitfall of the F5 ecosystem is the total lack of control over the product lifecycle. When they decide a product is finished, you're forced to move on their timeline, not yours.
On the chopping block this time is nearly the entire F5 iSeries. In 2024, the much-loved F5 i2600 and almost all iSeries SKUs went End of Sale (EOS). Now, it's the last hurrah, with the official wrapping up of the iSeries family confirmed for January 1st 2027. This leaves many re-evaluating (yet again) whether migrating to an alternative might make more sense.
So, how do you prevent history repeating itself with your next provider? It’s easy to assume that forced product retirements are just a standard industry headache—but they don't have to be.
At Loadbalancer.org, we do things differently. If you’re looking for a partner that prioritizes longevity over planned obsolescence, here's why we’re the refreshing change you’ve been waiting for.
The death of the F5 iSeries
In 2024, F5 stopped selling the iSeries. Of course, this initially only applied to new customers; many existing users continued to run their appliances without issue. However, F5 has now announced it will finally End Software Support (EoSS) for the iSeries in 2027.
This means:
- No more software updates: F5 will no longer provide software fixes, security patches (CVEs), or maintenance releases.
- Version pinning: You can continue to run your currently installed versions, but you won't be able to move to newer releases.
- Standard support ends: You will automatically transition from Standard Support to Extended Support (provided you have a contract that covers it).
So where does this leave you?
Option 1: Stick with F5
To continue receiving software support, F5 customers must transition to rSeries or VELOS hardware running a supported software version (listed here) before the deadline.
Option 2: Switch to an F5 alternative with End of Life
While the iSeries has strong contenders, simply switching to a giant like Citrix NetScaler often just trades one expiration date for another. While it's a capable alternative, it doesn't solve the primary headache—you’re still at the mercy of a rigid product lifecycle. And, given the high cost of a NetScaler, that's a hefty investment for a solution with a limited shelf life.
Option 3: Choose an F5 alternative with no End of Life
Loadbalancer.org is unique in the market because we do not End of Life our products. It’s a commitment we made years ago to put our customers first. Choosing our Enterprise load balancer allows you to bypass the traditional EOL cycle completely, helping you regain control over your infrastructure's budget, security, and stability.
Don't get me wrong...we're not saying you shouldn't upgrade when a new version of our product is released—just that you don't have to. The timing is up to you. In fact, we recently heard from a customer running v6.2 of our Enterprise hardware load balancer (we're currently on v8.13.5!). They set it up in 2016, left it for a decade, and it was still running perfectly. As they put it: "perhaps it is time to upgrade". If that's not an advert for a rock-solid solution that 'just works', I don't know what is!
But while our refusal to End of Life our products might have caught your attention, that's just the start.
Beyond breaking the cycle of planned obsolescence, here are five other compelling reasons to migrate to Loadbalancer.org...
5 reasons to choose Loadbalancer.org
1. Cost
Cut costs without cutting corners. With some of the most affordable appliances on the market, you can have enterprise-grade performance without the enterprise tax. We also believe you should be in the driver’s seat of your procurement process, which is why we provide total pricing transparency. No gatekeepers, no sales pressure, and no need to speak to a human (unless you want to).
"We've been using Loadbalancer.org across multiple environments, and it's hands-down one of the best infrastructure investments we've made". Manuel Carrillo, Linux Architect & System Engineer, Reviews.io.
2. The market sweet spot
Most IT teams feel stuck between two extremes: overpaying for complex solutions like F5 or Citrix, or drowning in the complexity of DIY open-source tools. We hit the sweet spot: enterprise-grade load balancers built on rock-solid open-source foundations (Linux and HAProxy) but with a proprietary, streamlined GUI and professional support.
"Great appliances and even greater support - there's not much more a man could ask from Loadbalancer.org, keep up the good work!”. Dragan Janjusevic, Linux System Administrator, Reviews.io.
3. WAF & GSLB included
We've eliminated feature-gating. We offer our Web Application Firewall (WAF) and Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) straight out of the box. You get advanced security and multi-site resilience from day one without being hit with secondary license keys, per-feature subscriptions, or throughput penalties.
"We now have seamless failover of our storage services to the live site of our choosing when maintenance is carried out, or one of our data centers goes down". Read success story.
4. Designed by engineers, for engineers
Load balancing doesn’t need to be rocket science. Our intuitive WebUI simplifies the complexity, putting power back in your hands. This allows you to slash the risk of configuration errors, accelerate deployment, and manage the appliance entirely in-house—eliminating the need for expensive third-party specialists.
"From a technical standpoint, the platform is incredibly reliable, flexible, and straightforward to manage. It provides all the functionality we need to build highly available services without unnecessary complexity". Patrick Bemis, IT Infrastructure Manager, Reviews.io.
5. Consultative support that goes beyond the box
The secret sauce of Loadbalancer.org is our people. Unlike vendors who stop helping the moment a packet leaves their appliance, our support team acts as an extension of your own. Our tierless team of Level 3 engineers help solve the whole problem; in fact, more than half of our resolved tickets involve issues with a client’s own network or a third-party solution.
"Your support team is by far the best support we experience across any of our contracts and suppliers. If only others could match your level of knowledge and speed of response, the IT world would be a happier and less cynical space". Nick Woodruffle, Managing Director, Reviews.io.
Putting you back in control
The 2027 deadline for the F5 iSeries is a loud reminder that in the world of proprietary hardware, you don't always own your infrastructure strategy. When a vendor decides your appliance is done, they aren't just retiring a product; they are disrupting your budget, your team's bandwidth, and your long-term stability.
At Loadbalancer.org, we believe that an appliance bought in 2016 should still be a high-performing asset in 2026 if that’s what your business requires. Whether you're looking to escape the enterprise tax, simplify management, or finally end the forced migration cycle, we’re here to make the transition seamless.
Further reading
- Load balancer migration: The F5 alternative turning heads
- Seamless migration from F5 BIG-IP to Loadbalancer Enterprise
- Scared of moving away from an F5 load balancer?