The next-gen open switch pipeline specification

10th December 2014

Broadcom

Nat Bowers

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Featuring OpenFlow software, specification and APIs, optimised for use in carrier networks and data centre applications, Broadcom has announced its next-gen OpenFlow Data Plane Abstraction (OF-DPA) version 2.0 reference platform. Supporting new networking protocols, the OF-DPA v2.0 reference platform allows data centres and service providers to quickly deploy applications and services.

The OF-DPA v2.0 reference platform enables service providers to provision, control, and instrument network switch elements through a standardised instruction set, based on the OpenFlow specification, APIs and its extensions. Designed to run on Broadcom's industry leading StrataXGS chipset, the reference platform delivers on the flexibility and control requirements of large-scale carrier deployments.

Broadcom's OF-DPA v2.0 reference platform enhances its previously released OF-DPA 1.0 reference platform with new carrier features including MPLS-TP, OAM and QoS and includes support for additional platforms optimised for carrier use cases. Carrier network operators will now have access to the same scalable infrastructure with programming abstractions that can be automated from standard controllers resulting in cost and time efficiencies. Examples of these include requirements for a Packet Transport Network (PTN) switch and the semantics of hardware packet flows.

Broadcom's OF-DPA v2.0 reference platform implements the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) OpenFlow 1.3.1 specification. OF-DPA defines and implements a hardware abstraction layer that maps the feature-rich StrataXGS switch architecture to the OpenFlow v1.3.1 switch and pipeline while providing innovative concepts on how OpenFlow can be implemented in the most efficient way. The OF-DPA specification and API are openly published and provided with turnkey reference implementation on Original Device Manufacturers (ODM) and Open Compute Project (OCP)-compliant switches to enable a community and academia-based development ecosystem.

Ram Velaga, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Network Switch, Broadcom, comments: "Broadcom's OF-DPA v2.0 supports emerging SDN use cases for service provider networks. The OF-DPA 2.0 feature set for the widely-deployed StrataXGS-based hardware, coupled with a rich software ecosystem, enables improved efficiency and operational agility for the largest carriers around the globe."

Broadcom's OF-DPA v2.0 EA0 reference platform is now available and includes a comprehensive OpenFlow 1.3.1 compliant specification.