Virtualisation platform saves time-to-market

Removing the need for multiple application-specific hardware platforms, the device enables service providers to run multiple virtualised applications such as firewall, deep packet inspection, security, or session border controller on a single hardware platform. Carrier-grade and designed to be certified to NEBS standards, it is based on open hardware and software architectures.

Enabling efficient virtual application deployment, the Centellis VP provides load-balanced switching. The platform reduces need for processor-intensive virtual switching by using Artesyn’s FlowPilot load balancing software to network traffic which enters through the switch blades to the appropriate virtualised application.

The Intel Accelerated Data Plane Development Kit has been used to optimise the Centellis VP application virtualisation software framework. To ensure a multi-vendor payload ecosystem combined with the scalability and maintainability of a bladed architecture, the platform is integrated with a widely-deployed ATCA hardware architecture. Providing the bandwidth required for line-rate application processing, the device is capable of up to 160Gbp/s server interconnect. The Centellis VP also includes up to 12 dual-processor Artesyn ATCA-7480 server blades based on the latest Intel Xeon E5-2600 V3 processors.

Todd Wynia, Vice President for communication products, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, said: “As service providers virtualise more applications, they can shorten their development time and cost with a highly scalable and carrier-grade platform such as Artesyn’s Centellis VP. Because our virtualisation framework software is based on industry standard NFV stacks, virtual functions can be sourced from multiple vendors, avoiding application vendor lock-in and providing the best total cost of ownership.”