FPGA powered data plane programmability

Xilinx is offering FPGA design solution for the new emerging telecom technology called "Softly" Defined Networks, where the data plane is also made programmable. The design of the programmable data plane functions is enabled by the new Software Defined Specification Environment for Networking (SDNet), with functional specifications automatically compiled into Xilinx's All Programmable FPGAs and SoCs. Xilinx explains in contrast to traditional SDN architectures, which employ fixed data plane hardware with a narrow southbound API connection to the control plane, Softly Defined Networks are based upon a programmable data plane with content-intelligence and a rich southbound API control plane connection. This enables multiple disruptive capabilities including: Support of wire speed services that are independent of protocol complexity Provisioning of per-flow, flexible services Support for revolutionary in-service "hitless" upgrades while operating at 100 percent line rate Benefits to telecom service provider as per Xilinx: These unique capabilities enable carriers and MSOs to dynamically provision unique, differentiated services without any interruption to the existing service or the need for hardware requalification or truck roll. This provides service providers higher revenue potential with unprecedented CapEx, OpEx, and time to market savings. Network equipmen...