Barracuda Networks unveils load-balancing device

Barracuda Networks has unveiled a load-balancing device, which it is hoping will generate new revenue streams for its channel.

The appliance features built-in security, automatic IP persistence and service monitoring and is fully scalable, Barracuda has claimed.

There are three devices in the range, supporting up to 25 servers, up to 100 servers and up to 250 servers respectively.

Paul Thackeray, UK managing director at Barracuda, told CRN: “Barracuda is an appliance company and we are always looking for new opportunities for ourselves and our channel partners.

“There is a mixed bag of competitors out there with the likes of Foundry Networks, F5, Nortel and NetScaler which offer load-balancing devices, but for a lot of companies the technology is pretty expensive. We have deliberately aimed the smallest model at the SME space.

“From what we have seen, this is the only type of product at this price point on the market. We are already seeing a lot of interest from our partners.”

He added that the vendor is still recruiting partners and is keen to sign VARs with networking as well as security skills to gain greater market share. Barracuda will supply the training and certification needed to get the device to market.

Reseller Open Business Systems (OBS) is the first UK partner to implement a device for a web-based property advice company called PropertyPriceAdvice.

Simon Kentish, managing director of OBS, said: “The load balancers are straightforward to deploy and manage, and the support our engineers have received from Barracuda has been excellent. As a result PropertyPriceAdvice visitors will have uninterrupted access to the web site with a minimal risk of downtime.”

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