F5 BIG-IP is a suite of software and hardware  as it offers a wide range of options for controlling the traffic which goes through organization’s networks and other IT environments. It is known for its load balancing and full proxy capabilities. The BIG-IP Platform is one of the smartest solutions for Application delivery controller technology.

BIG-IP Software :-

Big-ip Software products are the modules which run through F5's Traffic Management Operation System® (TMOS). The BIG-IP software can run on Hardware platforms and also on virtualized environments. The BIG-IP software is designed specifically for inspection of application & network traffic so that real time decisions can be made on the basis of provided configurations.

 F5 TMOS – Also known as the heart of BIG-IP. F5 TMOS is not an individual operating system. It is the foundation for all F5’s network or traffic products whether physical or virtual. TMOS is also called as a collection of operating systems and firmware all of which run on either BIG-IP hardware or virtual editions .F5 BIG-IP Modules are all enabled by the TMOS under the software provisioning section as per licensing. Modules defined on top of TMOS can further be extended through Open API’s.

BIG-IP Hardware:-

With software-defined hardware, line-rate performance, easy and rapid programmability, and support for multiple vendors' services, BIG-IP appliances are the way to go. Quicken private clouds, reduce expenses, and prepare your infrastructure for the future all while securing sensitive data at scale. Below are the types of hardware:-

The BIG-IP Standard Series

i)                    BIG-IP 12000 Series

ü  One 12-Core Intel Xeon processor