The pace of innovation in the networking world continues to increase with the immense growth in devices, increased data flow, and new protocols. As demands for higher throughput and efficiency drive switch development, the standard fixed-function application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) have started to make way for more flexible programmable switch that allows greater control of the data plane. Programmable switch ASICs deliver complete customized flexibility without sacrificing performance, power, or costs.

Fixed Function ASICs vs Programmable ASICs

Fixed function ASICs are designed and customized for certain functions and protocols, but it is limited to that application and would require time to implement any modifications. Programmable switches are the newer generation of ASICs that provides a much more efficient and flexible process to deal with new protocols and new requirements on existing protocols. P4 (Programming Protocol-Independent Packet Processors) programmability enables flexibility to keep pace with changing demands and features, making it more ideal for scalable networks for next-generation workloads.  

P4 Programmable Switch Benefits 

P4 (Programming Protocol-Independent Packet Processors) is an open source domain-specific programming language for expressing how packets are processed by the data plane of a network forwarding device, such as switches, routers, and network interface cards, allowing programmers to dictate how the networking gear operates.  

P4 programmable switch brings many benefits, including adding new features to support new protocols, removing unused protocols to free up space, and greater visibility into routing paths of packets to determine network latency. In addition to benefits like software reuse, library creation, separating hardware and software, and easy debugging. P4 programmable switching processors provides performance, visibility, real-time in-band telemetry network (INT), and enhanced congestion control for workloads spanning the entire edge-to-cloud spectrum.  

P4 Programmable Switch Use Cases 

P4 programmable switch has the ability to support an extensive range of network applications, including source-based routing (SR, SRv6, SRv6+), 5G network slicing (SRv6), vBNG, access gateway, 5G user-plane function, 5G VNF offloading, and wireless wireline convergence (5G WWG). P4 switches can be programmed to provide real-time in-band telemetry (INT) for high priority edge traffic, gaining visibility on latency, buffer occupancy, tracing packet route and other metrics. They can be programmed to dynamically route and switch packets based on network traffic. P4 switches can be capitalized for deep packet inspection (DPI), monitoring traffic to constructively screen and block attacks at the network edge.  

P4 programmable switch may not solve all challenges, but when properly used, it will improve performance, and increase the network resource efficiency to better handle service workloads.  

Solutions 

Lanner hyper-converged platforms fully consolidate high-performance computing, high-speed switching fabric and massive storage into an all-in-one programmable hyper-converged platform. 

For HTCA-6000 Series (Compatible with HTCA-6200/6400/6600

The HLM-1100 and HLM-1101 are programmable switch blades that features Intel® TofinoTM P4 programmable Ethernet switch ASICs for improved performance. Through this highly converged forwarding plane, it provides mobile networks with high availability and flexibility. Working together with the HMB-6110, the HLM-1100 optimizes the potential of HTCA-6000 series appliances with expanded computing performance for converged Mobile Edge networks. 

HLM-1100: 

  • 16x QSFP28+8x SFP28 
  • Intel Tofino Switch 
  • For HTCA-6000 Series 

HLM-1101: 

  • 14x QSFP28 Ports 
  • Intel Tofino Switch 
  • For HTCA-6000 Series 

HTCA-E400 Series:  

The HTCA-E400, a carrier-grade Open Edge Server, powered by 3rd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors (codenamed Ice lake) with built-in AI Acceleration, for 5G MEC, Open RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), Edge Cloud, and AI edge-focused applications with extensive configuration options. Together with the HLM-E110 switch blade, HTCA-E400 series supports 100GbE QSFP28 x6, and 10/25GbE SFP+ x8 with Intel® TofinoTM Series switch controller connectivity. 

HLM-E110: 

  • 10/25/100GbE fiber 
  • Intel Tofino Switch 
  • Optional IEEE 1588 

Featured Products


HLM-1100

100 GbE Switch Blade with Barefoot Tofino T10-032D

CPU None
Chipset None

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HLM-1101

100 GbE Switch Blade with Barefoot Tofino T10-032D

CPU None
Chipset None

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HTCA-E400

Carrier-grade Edge Server Chassis for Open RAN / MEC

CPU Depending on compute sled
Chipset Depending on compute sled

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