This document discusses the advantages of using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) over application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for software-defined networking (SDN). It notes that FPGAs have more logic gates, lower development costs, open development environments, and enable longer product lifecycles than ASICs. This makes FPGAs a more cost-effective solution for high-performance SDN applications like core routers, which typically use expensive ASICs. The total market cap of FPGA companies is also significantly lower than ASIC companies, representing an opportunity for SDN solutions based on FPGAs.

1. 2017 Mana Networks
1
Software Defined Networks

2. OPPORTUNITY
Global $432.2 Billion Software Defined
Networking Market Analysis & Trends 2013-2017
& Industry Forecast to 2025 - Emergence of Hyper-
Scale Cloud Networking - Research and Markets
https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nl4cw2/globa
l_software

3. Network Processors (ASIC’s) -Large Market-
CHALLENGE

4. ASIC Financials
– They’re
Vulnerable

5. Here’s Why – High End ASIC’s are Expensive to Fab with Lower Volume Mkt
Yield – Proprietary SDK makes wide adoption more challenging
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under
CC BY-NC-SA

6. SDN’s GREATEST VALUE is AGILITY and LIFECYCLE
Date: 03-01-17 Why engineers going for FPGA rather than ASIC?
At the latest semiconductor IC fabrication process nodes of 45nm and
below, the number of logic gates in an FPGA exceeds 5million giving
ample space for designing logic functional blocks for today's SoCs
(System on Chip). Nearly every FPGA Company provides silicon,
software, and hardware reference design to quickly develop embedded
system applications even with least knowledge of HDL or any such
FPGA specific languages. With such a set of tools and support, FPGA
based systems can be developed within weeks compared to what it
used to take months earlier. Factors such as these are contributing to
the growth of FPGA. On the otherside ASIC's development cost is rising;
forcing cost sensitive applications to move from ASIC based to FPGA
based.

7. THE SOLUTION – SDN FIRMWARE

9. 2017 Mana Networks 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-KgK4f0xbo
ECO-SYSTEM

10. SDN Core Routing…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNMKh2lC_60
40 RU System up to 256 100GbE QSFP28
Interfaces 64x4 100G FPGA NICs with
Redundant Hosts.
FPGA’s handle routing.
Open CRS/ASR JNPR MX Replacement
ECO-SYSTEM
SDN Per FPGA (128
FPGA’s in Core)

11. Core Routers Cost Multi-Millions of Dollars with ASIC’s. An FPGA
Solution May be a Fraction of the Cost

12. FPGA vs. ASIC High Level Market Cap Comparison
HQ: San Jose, CA
MKT Cap: $18.5B
HQ: Santa Clara, CA
MKT Cap: $219B
HQ: Singapore
MKT Cap: $116B
HQ: Palo Alto, CA
MKT Cap: $<$500M
Combined Mkt Cap: $237B Combined Mkt Cap: $116B

13. FPGA vs. ASIC Open Development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI18Wk4gxA4
Broadcom SDK Only.
Not Open, and Not
really programable

14. FPGA Adoption within Hyperscales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_4Ap1bjwgs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sDVprory3c

15. TARGET MARKET
Without SDN Telecoms
and Enterprise address
changes, and needs
with new hardware
Constantly replacing
hardware is a capital
burden
FPGA’s enable longer
life-cycle

16. Let’s Discuss Further…