DOCOMO and NEC Test VxLAN Offloadingfor OpenStack Neutron

NTT DOCOMO and NEC Corp. claim up to six times faster data transmission between multiple virtual machines by utilizing network interface cards (NICs) with Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) offloading.

The companies have completed a proof-of-concept that verified that a cloud system configured with open-source OpenStack Neutron, the cloud networking controller within the promising cloud management software OpenStack, is capable of up to 16 Gbps data transmission between virtual machines on two different physical hosts.

DOCOMO and NEC developed high availability (HA) capability for OpenStack Neutron's network controlling process. The HA is achieved by enabling multiple networking controllers to instantly take over a failed network controller. The combination of this HA and the huge increase in data transmission speed verified by the trials now qualifies OpenStack Neutron for commercial use. DOCOMO expects to introduce OpenStack Neutron on a commercial basis to provide faster and more stable cloud services within the fiscal year ending in March 2016.

The trials, the largest scale ever involving OpenStack Neutron, were conducted in cooperation with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, VirtualTech Japan Inc., NTT Advanced Technology Corporation, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Tokyo University and Dell Japan Inc.

https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2014/1104_00.html