Intel unveils IPU roadmap with ASIC and FPGA designs

Intel unveiled its IPU roadmap extending through 2026, featuring new FPGA + Intel architecture platforms (code-named Hot Springs Canyon) and the Mount Morgan (MMG) ASIC, as well as next-generation 800GB products. The discussion also a look at Intel's open-source software foundation, including the infrastructure programmer development kit (IPDK), which builds upon SPDK, DPDK and P4.

In terms of the timeline, Intel's roadmap includes:

• 2022: Mount Evans, the company's first ASIC IPU; and Oak Springs Canyon, Intel’s second-generation FPGA IPU shipping to Google and other service providers.
• 2023/24: introduction of 400 Gbps IPUs, code-named Mount Morgan and Hot Springs Canyon,
• 2025/26: introduction of 800 Gbps IPUs

Here are some details on the 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps IPUs:

Mount Evans -- the code name for Intel’s first ASIC IPU, architected and developed with Google Cloud

• Hyperscale-ready, it offers high-performance network and storage virtualization offload while maintaining a high degree of control.
• Provides a programmable packet processing engine enabling use cases like firewalls and virtual routing.
• Implements a hardware accelerated NVM storage interface scaled up from Intel Optane technology to emulate NVMe devices.
• Deploys advanced crypto and compression acceleration, leveraging high- performance Intel Quick Assist technology.
• Can be programmed using commonly deployed, existing, software environments, including DPDK, SPDK; the pipeline can be configured utilizing P4 programming.
• Shipping is expected to begin in 2022 to Google and other service providers; broad deployment is expected in 2023.

Oak Springs Canyon -- the code name for Intel’s 2nd generation FPGA-based IPU platform built with the Intel Xeon D and the Intel Agilex FPGA, the industry’s leading FPGA in power, efficiency, and performance.

• Network virtualization function offload for workloads like open virtual switch (OVS) and storage functions like NVMe over fabric and RoCE v2
• Standard yet customizable platform that enables customers to customize their data path and their solutions with FPGA and Intel Xeon-D with software like Intel Open FPGA Stack, a scalable, source-accessible software and hardware infrastructure
• Programmable using commonly deployed existing software environments, including DPDK and SPDK, which have been optimized on x86.
• A more secure, high speed 2x 100 gigabit Ethernet network interface with the hardened crypto block
• VirtIO support in Hardware for Native Linux support

Mount Morgan -- a next-generation ASIC IPU expected in 2023/2024.

Hot Springs Canyon -- a next-generation FPGA-based IPU platform expected in 2023/2024.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/home.html

Intel demos Xeon + Tofino switch + Mount Evans IPU

Thursday, October 28, 2021  Intel  

As part of the Intel Innovation event this week, Intel demonstrated an Intelligent Fabric based on its Xeon Scalable processors and next-generation Xeon D processors, Tofino 3 programmable switching silicon and new "Mount Evans" infrastructure processing unit (IPU). The idea is to leverage P4 programming across all 3 processing platforms for use cases such as near real-time telemetry and analytics with the Intel Deep Insight Network Analytics...

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Google collaborates on Intel's ASIC-based infrastructure processor

Wednesday, October 27, 2021  Google, Intel  

Intel and Google Cloud announced a deep collaboration to develop an ASIC P4-programmable infrastructure processing unit (IPU).Code-named “Mount Evans,” this open solution supports open source standards, including an infrastructure programmer development kit (IPDK) to simplify developer access to the technology in Google Cloud data centers. Machine learning, large-scale data processing and analytics, media processing, and high-performance computing...

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Intel rolls FPGA-based Infrastructure Processing Unit (IPU)

Thursday, June 17, 2021  DPU, Intel  

Intel outlined its vision for the infrastructure processing unit (IPU), a programmable network device that intelligently manages system-level infrastructure resources by securely accelerating those functions in a data center.In a video, Guido Appenzeller, chief technology officer with Intel's Data Platforms Group says the idea is to cleanly separate the processing of client workloads from workloads of the cloud service provider.Intel cites several...

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II‐VI unveils optical access node-on-a-blade

II‐VI unveiled a node-on-a-blade platform featuring WSS technology, high-power pump lasers, and ultrahigh-resolution wavelength telemetry. It operates as a multi-degree reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) system for enterprise access networks. 

II-VI’s node-on-a-blade benefits

• More efficient to deploy: With the industry’s most compact WSS technology, the system saves cost by significantly reducing facility expenses.
• More efficient to operate: The system seamlessly supports route-and-select nodes, which are highly desirable for their operational simplicity and flexible add-drop configurations.
• More efficient to scale: With its ultrahigh-resolution embedded telemetry, the system can manage a high mix of wavelength services at different baud rates.

“Our broad portfolio of optical technologies for ROADM networks is the most complete, highly differentiated, and often the first on the market,” said Dr. Richard Smart, Senior Vice President, ROADM Business Unit. “This enables us to form close relationships with customers who are looking to deploy disruptive optical networking solutions.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-unveils-node-on-a-blade-platform-with-ultrahigh-resolution-telemetry-for-high-mix-wavelength-services/

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Zayo outlines priorities: fiber expansion, 400G upgrades, subsea routes

Zayo outlined a number of priorities for its fiber network, including expansion of its long-haul dark fiber, 400 Gbps (400G) upgrades and subsea routes across the globe. This effort represents an investment totaling nearly a quarter of a billion dollars that will continue to yield new and upgraded routes globally over the next 18 months.

New builds of long-haul dark fiber routes include: 

• Cleveland-Columbus
• Dallas- Atlanta
• Denver- Salt Lake City
• Las Vegas- Phoenix

400G upgrades

So far, nearly half of Zayo’s 75,000-mile backbone network is 400G enabled, and a majority is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022. Recently, Zayo completed a successful subsea 400G trial with Equinix in the UK, helping the data center provider prepare for the growing need to move increasingly greater volumes of data faster than ever before. Zayo’s key new 400G routes include:

• Dallas- Atlanta (creating the company’s third major East-West route)
• Chicago- New York
• Denver- Chicago
• Denver- Salt Lake City (which completed the shortest route from San Francisco to New York, via Chicago)
• Los Angeles- Phoenix- Dallas
• Salt Lake City- San Francisco Bay Area
• San Francisco Bay Area- Los Angeles

Recently Zayo set a record for the world’s longest known terrestrial 800G optical wavelength in a commercial network, toaling 1,044.51 km.

Continued Subsea Investment

Zayo continues to invest in highly-scalable transatlantic routes, giving customers a one-stop-shop for a subsea network that connects North America and Europe without a single point of failure. Zayo’s previously-announced ZEUS cable, which is near completion, will be the deepest and most reliable connection between London and Amsterdam. Zayo’s subsea routes provide seamless access between the U.S. and Canada to Zayo’s dense European fiber network spanning eight countries with over 17,000 route miles.

“Enterprises of all sizes are entering a transformational, yet highly-complex time as they face a convergence of factors ranging from digital-first implementation and the future of work to rapid cloudification and edge computing. At Zayo, we recognize that each of these advancements is only as successful as the connectivity empowering it,” said Andrés Irlando, President, Zayo. “We are committed to continuous expansion and advancing our network and capabilities, and we remain focused on exceeding customer expectations now while positioning them for a future they are just now imagining.”

https://www.zayo.com

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Asia-Africa-Europe-1 upgrades with Infinera

The Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) Consortium has selected Infinera’s ICE6 coherent 800G solution to increase its submarine network capacity and provide diverse, resilient connectivity across European, Asian, African, and Middle Eastern markets. 

AAE-1’s submarine upgrade will more than double the current capacity, providing in excess of 100 Tb/s, resulting in the largest-scale submarine upgrade in history.

AAE-1’s cable system spans 25,000 kilometers of submarine and terrestrial networks, connecting 19 countries led by a consortium of 19 leading operators. Unlike any other cable system in the world, AAE-1 terminates at two points of presence in Singapore for enhanced route diversity and is the only next-generation cable that extends farther into Asia via diverse terrestrial routes across Thailand to provide connectivity to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. 

“AAE1 is a significant cable system. As international connections become increasingly important and capacity demand continues to rise, it is vital that we upgrade our system with the industry’s most innovative, advanced optical transmission technology,” said Giuseppe Sini, Chairman of AAE-1 Management Committee.“The deployment of Infinera’s ICE6 solution will mark a historic milestone as the largest submarine upgrade in history.”

“AAE-1’s deployment of Infinera’s ICE6 solution across its 25,000-km network is a huge undertaking and accomplishment not many technology companies could achieve,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Infinera. “Infinera is proud to deliver innovative solutions that offer seamless integration, scalable capacity, and value to network operators like AAE-1, and to help our customers deliver vital services to their customers with scale and efficiency.”

https://www.infinera.com/press-release/aae-1-consortium-selects-infinera-ice6-for-largest-scale-upgrade

AAE-1 subsea cable doubles capacity with Infinera

Tuesday, May 26, 2020  Infinera, Subsea  

The Asia-Africa-Europe-1 Consortium (AAE-1), which operates one of the largest subsea cable systems in the world, recently completed a significant upgrade with Infinera.  The upgrade, which is based on Infinera’s fourth-generation Infinite Capacity Engine (ICE4) technology and Instant Bandwidth capability, enabled AAE-1 to double the capacity on its intercontinental network while reducing total cost of ownership and increasing service agility...

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GTT targets 400G upgrade of Global IP Network

GTT Communications confirmed plans to investin a 400G upgrade to its global Tier 1 IP network. Juniper Netwoks has been selected for the IP upgrade.

The phased rollout will begin with global metropolitan city locations in the initial phase, eventually spanning GTT’s core IP switching and routing fabric connecting more than 260 cities on six continents. The initial phase of deployment is expected to complete in the second half of 2023. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The network augmentation to 400G will be implemented at multiple network layers that include the core IP backbone and metro extensions as well as customer service nodes where demand dictates. 

“The scalability and performance advantages of GTT’s global Tier 1 IP network is a cornerstone to what makes GTT stand out from the other managed network service providers,” commented Don MacNeil, GTT COO. “This comprehensive network upgrade to 400G demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the most advanced internet networking platform so that they can realize maximum business benefits from managed SD-WAN as well as the full array of enhanced internet services that GTT offers, and it is among a number of key initiatives on our transformation roadmap that leverage the latest AI and digital technologies.”

https://www.gtt.net/us-en/media-center/press-releases/gtt-invests-in-400g-upgrade-of-global-ip-network-to-meet-demand-for-high-performance-and-secure-internet-enabled-services

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AT&T activates location-based routing for Wireless 9-1-1 calls

AT&T has activated new “Locate Before Route” feature from Intrado to automatically transmit wireless 9-1-1 calls to the appropriate 9-1-1 call centers .  This helps to accurately identify where a wireless 9-1-1 call is coming from using device GPS and hybrid information to route the call to the correct 9-1-1 call center, also known as public safety answering point or PSAP.

With location-based routing, a device can be located and routed within 50 meters of the device location. Prior to this launch, wireless 9-1-1 calls were routed based on the location of cell towers, which can cover up to a 10-mile radius. This can cause delays in emergency response, especially when a call is made within PSAP border areas where state, county or city boundaries overlap.

The nationwide rollout has started and is available in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Guam. Additional regions will be rolled out over the next several weeks. The nationwide rollout is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.

https://about.att.com/story/2022/nationwide-location-based-routing.html

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Telstra confirms SX NEXT cable service in July

Telstra expects ready for service status on the Southern Cross NEXT cable (SX NEXT) in July 2022, providing an additional route that connects Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the U.S.

The new single span subsea cable is the industry’s first direct link between Sydney and Los Angeles, offering low latency and a massive 72Tbps of capacity.

Telstra is a 25 percent shareholder of the Southern Cross Cables Network (SCCN), the owner of SX NEXT.

Telstra noted that there are 12 international submarine cables connecting Australia to the rest of the world, and the SX NEXT cable will be the third cable in the SCCN ecosystem. 

Oliver Camplin-Warner, Telstra International CEO, states: “The SX NEXT cable will strengthen Telstra’s existing subsea network infrastructure – one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region – and solidify our commitment to connecting people and communities from Australia and the Pacific Islands to the U.S. and around the world.”

http://www.telstra.com/americas

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