ARX Solution Virtually Eliminates System Downtime, Reduces Weekly File Backup Times from 14 Hours to 1.5 Hours

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Delivery Networking, today announced it has helped U.K.-based architectural practice RHWL simplify data management using the F5® ARX® intelligent file virtualization solution. With F5, RHWL gains over 5,000 user hours of increased productivity, equating to a savings of more than $400,000 per year.

RHWL is a multi-skilled architectural practice with expertise in many areas: sustainable design, urban regeneration, master planning, conservation, refurbishment, mixed-use developments and interior design. Its projects range from office buildings, headquarters, hotels, and residential developments to sports stadiums, theaters, schools, and convention centers.

With more than 40 years experience and about 130 employees based in offices located in the U.K., Germany, and Qatar, RHWL provides designs to meet a range of architectural challenges across Europe and the Middle East.

Following significant growth of the business and the associated challenges of storing designs and blueprints, RHWL began to run out of storage space for these—often very large—files on its Storage Area Network (SAN). Employees were forced to carry out emergency archiving of data to online-based documents, which in turn affected project deadlines.

After reviewing a number of tiered storage solutions, RHWL selected F5’s ARX500 to manage data intelligently across its file storage infrastructure. With the ARX device’s automated storage tiering policies, inactive data—the majority of stored data—could be stored on less-expensive storage while remaining accessible by designers. Conversely, only active files remain on expensive tier 1 storage, dramatically cutting down the need to invest in this area.

“We didn’t just want to add more storage; we wanted to reduce the cost per gigabyte and gain a solution that would be much more scalable to support our future growth,” said Dave Allerton, IT Director at RHWL. “F5 Networks offered the best solution for the best cost and had experience of delivering solutions to other architect firms facing similar challenges to us.”

“Our weekend backup times have dropped from 14 hours to just 1.5 hours,” Allerton continued. “This creates a savings in time as well as in the cost of tapes.