SmartyHost has installed two BIG-IP 6400 systems from F5 Networks, which allow traffic loads to be balanced between servers, to manage network traffic.

The BIG-IP systems include a compression module that optimizes bandwidth and accelerates the delivery of server applications.

SmartyHost claims the new systems have enabled new Web sites to be loaded five to six times faster.

The systems are also being used for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption certificate management.

Anoosh Manzoori, SmartyHost managing director, said the hosting provider is now gaining a new customer every five minutes, so a "spontaneous and automated" approach to operations was needed.