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    <periodOfReport>2019-02-01</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>F5 NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FFIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
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            <rptOwnerName>Locoh-Donou Francois</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O F5 NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>401 ELLIOTT AVE. W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98119</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, CEO &amp; Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value>19195</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired upon vesting of the May 1, 2017, November 1, 2017 and November 1, 2018 awards of service-based Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This transaction was executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This transaction was executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, in multiple trades at prices ranging from $160.6302 to $160.9908. The reported price is the weighted average sale price. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Company, any security holder of the Company, or Securities and Exchange Commission staff,upon request, complete information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of F5 Networks, Inc. Common Stock on the vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This November 1, 2017 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">If the reporting person continues to serve as an officer of the Company on the vest date, the corresponding number of shares of Common Stock
of F5 Networks, Inc. will be issued to the reporting person on the vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This May 1, 2017 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) on May 1, 2018 and the remaining sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) vests in eight equal quarterly increments beginning August 1, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This May 1, 2017 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests twenty five percent (25%) on May 1, 2018 and the remaining seventy five percent (75%) vests in twelve equal quarterly increments beginning August 1, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">This May 1, 2017 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in sixteen equal quarterly increments beginning August 1, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">This November 1, 2018 award of service-based Restricted Stock Units vests in twelve equal quarterly increments beginning February 1, 2019.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph P. McDermott by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
