The document discusses the challenges faced by modern data centers due to server-based networking and software-based virtual switches, which can create bottlenecks and reduce performance. It introduces the Agilio server networking platform, emphasizing its ability to offload virtual switch processing and improve efficiency. Finally, it presents benchmark results showing significant gains in throughput and efficiency compared to traditional software options, resulting in lower TCO and enhanced performance capabilities.

1. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC.
Linley Data Center Conference
February 9, 2016
Open vSwitch
Implementation Options
Nick Tausanovitch
VP of Solutions Architecture

2. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 2
The Modern Data Center Landscape
Modern Public and Private Cloud Data Center applications are driving:
▶ Rapid sprawl of Virtual Machines (VM’s) and containers to scale data centers
▶ The need for SDN control of Network Virtualization overlays
▶ SDN controlled per-VM and per Tenant policies for zero-trust security
▶ Continuous SW changes to accommodate networking feature adds
Enter the Era of Server-Based Networking…

3. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 3
The New Data Center Infrastructure Conundrum
…But server-based networking using software-based virtual switches creates a
new set of challenges
The Low Throughput
creates a data bottleneck
and starves applications,
limiting performance
Many CPU cores are
needed resulting in a CPU
Tax that dilutes effective
compute resources
The added Latency of
software switches
precludes use in many real
time applications

4. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 4
Introducing the Agilio™ Server Networking Platform
10/40GbE Production Solutions Now
Agilio
Server-Based
Networking
Software
Agilio-CX Intelligent Server Adapters
! Agilio Accelerates the virtual switch Data Path
! Agilio Offloads the virtual switch processing from servers
! The Agilio functionality is flexible and extensible

5. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 5
NFP-4000 Chip (Used on CX-4000 Adapters)
Network Flow Processor used on CX-4000 Intelligent Server Adapters
▶ Highly Parallel Multithreaded Processing Architecture for high throughput
▶ H/W Accelerators to further maximize efficiency (throughput/watt)
▶ Purpose built Flow Processing Cores maximize flexibility
Comprehensive feature set with Agilio Software
▶ RX/TX with SR-IOV and stateless offloads
▶ Extensive, flexible tunneling support (e.g. VXLAN, MPLS, GRE)
▶ Flexible Match/Action with transparent offload of OVS
▶ High Scale and very granular security policies
External DDR3 support for Millions of Flows
Easy function extensibility with P4 and C Sandbox

6. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 6
Agilio™ Open vSwitch Implementation
Agilio Software Architecture for Open vSwitch

7. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 7
Software Models Provide Maximum Flexibility
P4 and C Sandbox Data Path Programming
Flow Configuration and API programming with Agilio Software Agilio Data Path Extensibility with C Sandbox
• Agilio Software with simple API-level programming
provides a market ready solution with rich features and
robust roadmap
• Extension of Agilio software with custom features can be
achieved incrementally with C Sandbox programming
• Fuller control of data plane functionality while providing
abstraction of the underlying hardware with P4
Open Source P4 and C Programming Tools available at http://www.open-NFP.org

8. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 8
Open vSwitch Benchmarking Scenarios

9. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 9
OVS Benchmark Testing Overview
Data collected for key endpoint NIC use cases
▶ OVS offload with Network-VM, VM-Network, VM-VM data flows
▶ OVS-based L2, L3 forwarding and actions
▶ VXLAN Tunnel Endpoint Processing
▶ Standard netdev and dpdk poll mode drivers
Collected data across a range of parameters
▶ Packet size
▶ Number of Wildcard Rules
▶ Number of Micro-Flows
Key metrics collected and analyzed
▶ Packets-per-second throughput
▶ CPU core usage
▶ Latency
*Netronome Trafgen source/sink user space application is being open sourced and will be made available on www.open-nfp.org
Benchmark Testing Setup with Netronome Trafgen*
Test Gen Server
DPDK PMD
Trafgen
(Source)
1x40G link
DPDK PMD
Trafgen
(Source)
Server Adapter
DUT Server
DPDK PMD
Trafgen
(Sink)
DPDK PMD
Trafgen
(Sink)
DUT Server Adapter

10. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 10
OVS Benchmark Throughput Results
OVS L2 Forward to VMs
Packet Size
MillionPacketsPerSecond
OVS VXLAN + L2 to VMs
Packet Size
MillionPacketsPerSecond
40GbE Network-to-VM Traffic with 64,000 Micro-flows matching against 1000 Wildcard Rules

11. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 11
Server CPU Core Allocations
• 12 CPU Cores Dedicated to OVS
• 12 CPU Cores for Application
• 1 CPU Core Dedicated to OVS
• 23 CPU Cores for Application
Software (Kernel and User) OVS
Agilio OVS

12. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 12
Per Server CPU Core Efficiency
Throughput with single Server CPU Core
MillionPacketsPerSecond
• 50X Efficiency Gain vs. Kernel OVS
• 20X Efficiency Gain vs. User OVS

13. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 13
Summary and Conclusion
X86 Cores Available to Run APPs
DataDeliveredtoAPPs
Agilio
OVS
DPDK OVS
Kernel
OVS
• Eliminate vSwitch Data Bottlenecks
• Reduce the OVS server CPU Tax
• Improved packet latencies
• Maintain software innovation velocity
Agilio Intelligent Server Adapters to enable the next
stage of the server-based networking revolution…

14. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC. 14
Efficiency Drives Massive TCO Savings
Server
TOR
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Rack Throughput: 120Mpps
VNF’s Per Rack: 240
Traditional NIC with
Software OVS
Rack Throughput: 440Mpps
VNF’s Per Rack: 880
Agilio-CX with
Accelerated OVS
74% Lower
CAPEX
75% Lower
OPEX
Data Center TCO*
3.7x More
VNFs
3.7x More
Throughput
Per Rack Capacity
Server
Server
Server
Server
TOR
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
Server
ServerServer
20Serverswith40GbE
20Serverswith40GbE
*Based on Data Output from Netronome ROI Calculator available online at http://netronome.com/products/ovs/roi-calculator

15. © 2016 NETRONOME SYSTEMS, INC.
Thank You