F5 Networks and Array Networks Settle Patent Dispute; Array Networks Agrees to License F5's Cookie Persistence Patent.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

F5 Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFIV), the leading provider of Application Traffic Management products, today announced the settlement of a patent dispute with Array Networks, Inc. surrounding F5 Networks' 'Cookie Persistence' patent. As part of the settlement agreement, Array will license the Cookie Persistence patent, which enables key capabilities for traffic management and load balancing products.

"F5's Cookie Persistence technology is fundamental to intelligent traffic management and has become an essential requirement for any business that wants to successfully deliver applications over the Internet," said John McAdam, President and CEO of F5 Networks. "We're pleased to have come to an agreement with Array Networks and view this as an important validation of the value that this patent has in the market."

In October 2002, F5 was awarded the patent for its Cookie Persistence technology - U.S. Patent No. 6,473,802 entitled, "Method and System for Storing Load Balancing Information with an HTTP Cookie," which enables key capabilities for any traffic management and load balancing product. F5's patented Cookie Persistence technology uses an HTTP cookie stored on the customer's computer to allow the customer to reconnect to the same server previously visited at a Web site. For example, Cookie Persistence allows a traffic management device to direct the customer to the server that stored the customer's shopping cart information, allowing the customer to complete the transaction. Without Cookie Persistence, the traffic management device could direct the customer's request to a different server, which may not know about the customer and the customer's shopping cart status.

About F5 Networks

F5 Networks keeps IP-based traffic flowing and business information always available to any user from any device, anywhere in the world. Our products ensure secure and reliable access to servers and the applications that run on them. F5 also provides tools to automate communications between applications and the network, eliminating tedious, manual processes.

As the pioneers of intelligent load balancing, F5's continued innovations help businesses optimize and protect their IT investments. Our mission is to ensure the availability, scalability, performance, and security of IT resources that enterprises require to successfully do business. Over 6,000 enterprises and service providers rely on F5 solutions to keep their businesses running. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices worldwide. For more information go to www.f5.com.

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