Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/cisco_amd_dpu/
Source: The Register
Title: Yup, AMD’s Elba and Giglio definitely sound like they work corporate security
Feedly Summary: Which is why Cisco is adding these Pensando DPUs to more switches
Cisco is cramming into more of its switches Pensando data processing units (DPUs) from AMD, which will be dedicated to handling security, storage, and other tasks.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Cisco’s introduction of Pensando data processing units (DPUs) into its Nexus 9300 series switches marks a significant advancement in network security and data processing capabilities. The integration of these DPUs allows for offloading complex tasks, enhancing performance, and paving the way for more efficient data handling across the infrastructure.
Detailed Description:
– Cisco has debuted new “smart switches” that integrate AMD’s Pensando DPUs to manage tasks related to security, storage, and data processing.
– This switch family, revealed at Cisco Live Amsterdam, utilizes the E100 ASIC from Cisco’s Silicon One series, offering substantial network capacity.
– Key features include:
– Up to 4.8 Tbps of network capacity.
– Options for configurations such as 24 x 100 Gbps ports or a top-of-rack setup with multiple port options.
– The inclusion of Pensando DPUs allows for offloading networking and security workloads, which traditionally burden connected systems.
– Cisco’s switches stand out by employing its own E100 switch ASIC for networking while leveraging Pensando’s DPUs for additional services, including security.
– The DPU capabilities:
– Using an earlier generation of Pensando’s DPUs, specifically the Elba, featuring various technical specifications such as 200 Gbps Ethernet interfaces and dedicated engines for encryption and storage.
– The upcoming 56-port ToR switch will feature Giglio DPUs, optimized for efficiency.
– Cisco’s Hypershield security platform will be among the first services integrated within these DPU-enhanced switches, indicating a shift toward distributed and scalable security solutions.
– The architecture allows for running multiple services beyond just security, thanks to the programmability of the P4 engines within the DPUs.
– Future product releases include the 24-port N9300 switches expected in spring and the 56-port ToR switch in summer, reflecting Cisco’s ongoing advancements in cloud and infrastructure security technology.
Overall, this integration reflects a broader trend towards offloading and enhancing processing capabilities directly within network hardware, enabling more robust and efficient security measures within cloud services and infrastructure.