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White Paper
Developing Solutions
with Intel® ONP Server
Reference Architecture
Developing High-Performance,
Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform
Server Reference Architecture
Developing innovative, flexible cloud networking solutions as defined
by Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions
Virtualization (NFV) is simpler with the Intel® Open Network Platform
Server (Intel® ONP Server) Reference Architecture (RA). The Intel ONP
Server Reference Architecture provides developers with a validated
template for quickly developing and showcasing next-generation,
cloud-aware network solutions, using a comprehensive stack of open
source software and powerful industry-standard hardware. This white
Authors:
Dana Nehama
Senior Product Marketing Manager,
Intel Software Defined Networking Division
Rob Shiveley
Open Source Technology Center,
Intel Software and Services Group
Contributors:
Joseph Gasparakis
Networking Software Engineer,
Intel Software Defined Networking Division
Rob Love
Networking Software Engineer,
Intel Software Defined Networking Division
paper provides the information you need to get started developing your
own unique applications.
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
Table of Contents
Redefining Network Infrastructure
Redefining Network Infrastructure..... 2
Today’s cloud services need greater performance, flexibility, and adaptability
from the networks that support them. The exponential growth of data and
devices—including the expected explosion of the Internet of Things (IoT)—
along with business needs for cloud-driven agile solutions, demand that
networks respond faster, be more flexible, and cost less.
Intel® Open Network Platform
Server Reference Architecture............. 2
Example Intel® ONP Server Node
Hardware and Software Building
Blocks in ONP Server Rel. 1.2............4
Orchestration with OpenStack*........4
Abstracting Network
Control with OpenDaylight*................4
VM Traffic Forwarding
with Open vSwitch*.................................4
Accelerating Packet
Processing with Data Plane
Development Kit (DPDK)......................4
A Complete SDN and NFV
Development Environment.................4
SDN & NFV Use Case Examples............ 5
Virtualizing the Enterprise
CPE (Access Router) into
the Operator’s Network........................5
Enabling Additional Functionality....... 6
Summary.................................................... 6
The Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization
(NFV) initiatives redefine how network equipment delivers control and forwarding
services within the data center. SDN disintegrates traditional network equipment
architecture by separating the networking control layer, where decisions are made,
from the data plane that provides forwarding services. Doing so, SDN provides a
framework for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and enterprises to design softwaredriven, innovative networking applications and run them on cost-effective
standard high-volume servers (SHVS).
Control commands are passed from servers to data plane devices, where
forwarding is carried out. NFV allows networking functions to be run on virtual
machines, creating highly flexible and adaptable network resources that can be
quickly deployed as needed to fulfill changing demands within the cloud data
center. By disintegrating control and data planes and introducing virtualization
into the network, SDN and NFV enable development of more responsive
networks that can meet the needs of today’s cloud computing at lower cost.
Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
The Intel® Open Network Platform Server (Intel® ONP Server) is a Reference
Architecture (RA) server that provides a hardware/software template for
creating and showcasing SDN and NFV server solutions. The Intel ONP Server
Reference Architecture is released on a quarterly basis in the format of a
reference architecture guide which is posted on 01.org. The Intel ONP Server
Reference Architecture Guide provides instructions for building the ONP
Server system and software, test scripts, and a set of benchmark performance
test results.
Open Network Platform Overview
Software Stack Based on
Open Source, Open Standards
High-Performance
IA-Based Server Hardware
Figure 1. Intel® ONP Server overview.
2
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
The foundation of the Intel ONP Server RA is a SHVS based
on Intel® Architecture (IA) with a software stack composed
of open source, open standard software building blocks
(Figure 1). This RA is designed to deliver high-performance
processing and acceleration, plus wide applicability across
open source projects using the x86 instruction set. The
open source software ingredients consist of OpenStack,*
OpenDaylight,* Open vSwitch,* DPDK,* and KVM.* Thus, the
Intel ONP Server provides a reference server node solution
for SDN and NFV application development, for testing, and
for Proof of Concept (POC) demonstrations.
The Intel ONP Server software has been tested within a
SDN-like environment to deliver foundational functionality
and to meet benchmark performance results expected
in the industry. Figure 2 illustrates a typical RA test
environment, which includes Intel ONP Server nodes,
OpenDaylight controller, and OpenStack functionality.
OpenStack*
Plugin
Enhancements
OpenDaylight*
OVDB
OpenFlow*
INTEL® ONP SERVER
VM
VM
INTEL® ONP SERVER
VM
VM
VM
VM
Open vSwitch* DPDK
Open vSwitch* DPDK
Linux*/KVM*
Linux*/KVM*
Intel® Architecture
Intel® Architecture
network processor
Intel® ONP Server Software
chipset
network processor
Intel® ONP Server Hardware
chipset
Developers’ Network Functions
Figure 2. Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture environment enables innovative 3rd party solution development.
3
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
Example Intel® ONP Server Node Hardware and Software Building Blocks
in ONP Server Rel. 1.2
Each Intel ONP Server node specifies the following components:
Hardware1
Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2697 v3, 2.60 GHz, Dual 14 cores2
Intel® 82599 10 GbE Controller (2X)
Memory: 8x8 GB DDR4 RDIMM Crucial CT8G4RFS4213
Intel® Communications Chipset 8950 with Intel® Quick Assist Technology
Software3
BIOS: GRNDSDP1.86B.0038.R01.1409040644
DPDK: v1.7.1
OVS: multiple OVS versions used in different nodes: OVS v2.3.0 (Controller
node), v2.1.2 (OVDK compute node), v.2.3.90 (Accelerated OVS compute node)
OVDK: v1.2-0
OpenStack: Juno
OpenDaylight: Helium
KVM: v1.6.2-10.fc20.x86_64
Linux* OS with KVM* hypervisor
Intel® QuickAssist Drivers for function acceleration
The Intel ONP Server was designed
to support the performance needs
of network services in a virtualized
environment. It integrates two processor
sockets, a large number of cores, and
10-gigabit Ethernet, all running
on Linux.* By integrating Intel libraries,
drivers, APIs, and other 3rd-party
software components, Intel exposes
the performance and reliability
features of the Intel ONP Server silicon
and underlying hardware to higher
level software, such as OpenStack
and OpenDaylight. With these tools,
developers can quickly take advantage
of the unique server capabilities
for networking.
Orchestration with OpenStack*
OpenStack is the cloud operating
environment used to automate deployment of software solutions on virtual
machines. OpenStack itself has several
components. Together, they provide
automation intelligence and drive
deployment of the needed business
and network applications. For example, when a customer requests a new
data analysis service that requires
4
only specific packet types, OpenStack
could orchestrate the construction
and deployment of VMs that deliver the
analytics application and any required
NFV-based packet filtering services.
Enhanced Platform Awareness in
OpenStack enables deployment
of NFV virtual machines onto server
platforms with the specific hardware
and silicon capabilities that are optimal
for the particular needs of the VM.
This helps ensure the application is
provided the best combination of
features available across the spectrum
of available systems in the data center.
Abstracting Network Control
with OpenDaylight*
Network control is rich and complex.
OpenDaylight provides a framework
through which the network application
can direct control decisions. Open
Daylight is a combination of many
components, including a fully pluggable
controller, APIs, protocol plug-ins, and
applications, all designed to enable the
SDN application abstractions to manifest. The Northbound (programmatic)
and Southbound (implementation)
interfaces are clearly defined and
documented APIs through which the
application developer can interface
with the controller to take advantage
of the rich set of protocols and services
within OpenDaylight.
VM Traffic Forwarding
with Open vSwitch*
In a virtual environment, the hypervisor
needs a method of forwarding traffic
across independent virtual machines
and to the external network. Open
vSwitch provides these services. Open
vSwitch delivers a production-quality,
manageable virtual switch targeted at
multi-server virtualization deployments.
Accelerating Packet Processing with
Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)
The DPDK is a set of libraries and
drivers that take advantage of Intel®
instruction set architecture features to
accelerate packet processing on x86
platforms. The libraries include:
• A multicore framework
• Huge page memory
• Ring buffers
• Poll-mode drivers
The libraries can be used to:
• Receive and send packets within the
minimum number of CPU cycles
(usually less than 80 cycles)
• Develop fast packet
capture algorithms
• Run third-party fast path stacks
A Complete SDN and NFV
Development Environment
The Intel ONP Server Reference
Architecture is a complete environment
that helps accelerate SDN and NFV
deployments, plus applications
development and deployment for cloud
data centers. The architecture abstracts
the development from the hardware
and exposes the enhancements and
features of the Intel® platform for
networking applications.
An application developed by Intel
engineers and implemented on the
Intel ONP Server Reference Architecture are described below.
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
SDN & NFV Use Case Examples
Enterprises typically deploy a number
of network functions as dedicated
hardware infrastructure. These are
often expensive and proprietary appliances or systems with little flexibility
to adapt to changing needs. With
increasing innovative development
of virtual functions, a service provider
might deliver these to an enterprise
in the future on a Virtual Network
Functions as a Service (VNFaaS) basis.
Here are some possible examples:
• Enterprise Access Router as Enterprise
Customer Premise Equipment
• Provider Edge Router
• Enterprise Firewall
• Enterprise WAN Optimization Controller
• Deep Packet Inspection
• Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
and other security appliances
• Network Performance Monitoring
Virtualizing the Enterprise
CPE (Access Router) into the
Operator’s Network
Traditional IP routers are based
on custom hardware and software.
They are among the most capitalintensive portions of service provider
infrastructure. Yet, Provider Edge (PE)
routers often run out of control plane
resources before they run out of data
plane resources. Virtualization of the
control plane functions can improve
scalability while making use of the
existing data plane infrastructure.
This can be a revenue opportunity
for the service provider.
Rather than the enterprise invest
capital in deployment of networking
infrastructure, the service provider
can provide advanced networking
features as a measured service on
an expense basis. With the service
provider implementing the enterprise
CPE, it can also offer additional VNF
instances on demand and as needed
for the control plane of the PE router,
WOC
NG-FW
QoS/DPI
VPN
Enterprise Branch
AR
improving its scalability and increasing
revenue opportunities. Making the
VNF functionality available to the
enterprise as a service is comparable
to the cloud computing notion of
Software as a Service. Figure 3
illustrates a possible implementation.
As shown in the figure, enterprise
local traffic is handled by a local L2
or L3 switch, providing physical
connectivity (and possibly further
functionality) to the wider network.
The LAN is extended to the operator’s
network through a virtual enterprise
CPE (vE-CPE). In addition to providing
access to router services, the vE-CPE
might also virtualize next-generation
firewall (NG-FW), WAN optimization
controller (WOC), deep packet
inspection (DPI), and VPN termination
services. As the enterprise required
additional services, perhaps unique
to the business, the operator could
likely respond more quickly than an
equipment manufacturer, offering
added services to the enterprise.
vE-CPE
AR
AR
Public Network
Centralized Corporate
IT Infrastructure
Virtualized Branch
Customer Site Virtualization
L2/L3
Switch
ONT
PE
WiFi AP
Phy Ports
Aggregator
Non-Virtualized Branch
AR
WAN
WOC NG-FW
ONT
Network Edge
Virtualization
VoIP
Internet
LAN
Figure 3. Enterprise vCPE Router provided as part of a virtual service can create revenue opportunities to service providers.
5
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
Enabling Additional Functionality
SDN and NFV target applications may require functions, such as High-Precision
Event Timer (HPET). These functions would need to be enabled in BIOS as required,
and the appropriate modules added to the Linux kernel. Other functionality to
consider, and described in the Getting Started Guide, include the following:
• Power management and power saving
• Reducing context switches with Linux core isolation
• Loading the DPDK Kernel NIC Interface (KNI) module for keeping
compatibility with standard Linux network interfaces and also for
running the KNI sample application
• Running DPDK with Intel® Virtualization technology (Intel® VT-d)
• High performance of small packets on 40 Gbps NICs
• Running applications without root privileges
Summary
The Intel ONP Server Reference Architecture provides an environment for network application developers and cloud architects to quickly create and showcase
innovative SDN and NFV solutions that can enable flexible, responsive, less costly
networks. The Reference Architecture leverages standards-based, open source
software projects and Intel drivers, libraries, and APIs. The Intel ONP Server Reference Architecture Guide provides the instructions and information to build out a
validated development and test environment, including sample applications to
help new developers to get started innovating solutions for their customers.
Across that spectrum of options, software vendors, system integrators, developers,
and cloud architects can benefit from the use of Intel ONP Server as a vehicle to
evaluate and jumpstart development of systems or software for use in SDN
and NFV environments.
6
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
For more information on Intel Open Network Platforms, visit
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/switch-silicon/
open-network-platform.html
https://01.org/packet-processing/intel%C2%AE-onp-servers
For more information about the open source projects and to download source
files, see their respective web sites:
• www.openstack.org
• www.opendaylight.org
• www.openvswitch.org
• www.dpdk.org
For more information about Intel® QuickAssist technology, visit
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/quickassist-technology/
quickassist-technology-developer.html
7
Developing High-Performance, Flexible SDN & NFV Solutions
with Intel® Open Network Platform Server Reference Architecture
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Intel ONP Server release 1.2.
1
Also being validated on Intel® Xeon® processors E5 v3.
2
Gartner, Forecast: The Internet of Things, Worldwide, 2013
3
Copyright © 2014 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other
countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. 1214/RS/HBD/PDF
331711-001US