Unlike most 4G networks based on purpose-built appliances, the 5G packet core is implemented as virtualized or cloud-native software running on servers located within edge and core data centers. As Communications Service Providers (CSPs) and enterprises scale up the deployments of their telecom infrastructure and private networks, they face strong financial pressure to maximize the number of users that can be supported on each server while also minimizing the energy consumption of their edge data centers.
Within the 5G packet core, the UPF subsystem represents the highest compute workload, performing critical packet inspection, routing and forwarding functions. As data rates increase and workloads proliferate, some service providers may consider offloading some real-time packet processing from general-purpose server CPU cores widely deployed in today's virtualized and cloud native networks. To support this, Napatech enables 5G core vendors to address the key business challenges around packet core deployments through its integrated hardware/software solution that comprises a fully-offloaded UPF fast path implemented within the Link-Inline™ software stack, running on programmable SmartNICs. Napatech's UPF offload solution is supported by an ecosystem of packet core software suppliers and server OEMs, with partners such as A5G Networks, Advantech, Druid Software and Kontron having already announced products that leverage this technology, while others have integrations in progress.
The new Napatech NT400 400Gbps SmartNIC maximizes the performance of its UPF offload solution, processing up to 190 million concurrent flows with a flow learning rate greater than 2 million flows per second, achieving a total throughput of up to 113 million packets per second on stateful connections and ensuring full 2x 200G wire speed operation for typical packet sizes.
"AvidThink was pleased to feature Napatech's 5G UPF offload solution in our 2022 SmartNICs and Infrastructure Acceleration report, and we are glad to see them delivering this new release on their Intel Agilex FPGA-based platform," said Roy Chua, founder and principal, AvidThink. "As CSPs and enterprises deploy 5G cores in edge clouds and on-premises data centers, Napatech's solution can help maximize the performance of these deployments while reducing energy consumption, cost, and footprint."
"Launching our UPF offload solution on the new NT400 SmartNIC extends the benefits that the solution delivers to network operators," said Charlie Ashton, senior director of business development, Napatech. "In a representative use case that we analyzed, the performance of the NT400 enabled an operator to support 90x more users per server than with a software-based UPF and 7x more users per server than with a competing ASIC-based SmartNIC, leading to compelling reductions in server power consumption in both scenarios."
"We are delighted to see Napatech introduce their offload solutions on their Intel Agilex-based SmartNIC," said Mike Fitton, Vice President, Programmable Solutions Group and General Manager, Network Business Division at Intel. "Our Intel Agilex 7 FPGA F-Tile delivers high performance and power efficiency for the most demanding applications, helping to ensure that Napatech's partners and customers can deliver leading solutions for telecom infrastructure."
Napatech's UPF offload solution on the NT400 SmartNIC is orderable today. For more information, please visit www.napatech.com/support/resources/solution-descriptions/smartnic-offload-solution-for-5g-user-plane-function.
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About Napatech
Napatech is the leading supplier of SmartNIC solutions used in cloud, enterprise, and telecom datacenters. Through commercial-grade software suites integrated with high-performance hardware, Napatech accelerates network infrastructure, security and storage workloads to deliver best-in-class system-level performance while maximizing the availability of server compute resources for applications and services. Additional information is available at www.napatech.com.
No Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to, business conditions, trends in the industry and markets, global economic and geopolitical conditions, macro-economic factors, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in Napatech's reports. The matter discussed in this release is based on current expectations and maybe subject to change. Napatech will not necessarily update this information. For details, visit us at www.napatech.com.
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