Barracuda Networks has launched an update to its NG Firewall appliances, enabling 64-bit multiprocessing capabilities.
The addition means Barracuda NG Firewall 5.0 will be able to take full advantage of top-end multi-core processors, the manufacturer claimed.
The ability to scale up to multiple cores means companies can get firewall application control throughput speeds of up to 21Gbps without changing their hardware.
Dr Klaus Gheri, vice president for product management for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Barracuda, said this additional performance had taken "a long time" to integrate into the firewall, "but it is an important milestone."
"Performance changes are the most needed ones," he told delegates during a press conference in Austria today.
"Customers have been nagging us for this and it is big news for them."
The update also included Active Recovery Technology, designed to enable administrators to manage appliances in remote locations without the need for travel.
Companies can use the technology to deploy as well, as recover remote appliances, centrally through the Barracuda NG Control Centre, meaning administrators can initiate diagnostics and fixes for remote problems without leaving their department.
The Barracuda NG Firewall firmware release 5.0 is available from today and comes at no extra cost for current customers.
The firewall comes in 11 different appliance models and as a virtual appliance for VMware, all of which cost between 499 and 27,499 each.
The update comes nine months after Barracuda's acquisition of Austrian-based phion, whose technology has been leveraged for use in the firewall product line.
Much of the focus at today's Barracuda summit has focused on the work with phion, with the former's chief executive (CEO) Dean Drako reiterating the positives of being "better together."
Drako said Barracuda lacked a traditional firewall product and phion ended up being the perfect fit.
