Summary
Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) infrastructure requires high-core-count processors with hardware acceleration to execute multiple virtualized network functions (VNFs) simultaneously. NEXCOM's NSA 7150 addresses this requirement through dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon processors (Whitley), Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) for cryptographic acceleration, and eight LAN module slots for flexible network connectivity. The 2U rackmount platform has completed Intel Select Solution NFVI compliance validation, enabling rapid deployment for service providers and enterprises building NFV-based infrastructure.
Problem / Requirements
NFV deployments encounter specific operational requirements:
- VNF Scaling: Executing multiple network functions (firewalling, routing, DPI, VPN gateways) on unified hardware
- Throughput Requirements: Processing sustained network traffic across multiple VNF instances without performance degradation
- Crypto Workload: Terminating VPN/TLS connections and encryption-based security services
- Standards Validation: Certification for interoperability with industry NFV standards and orchestration platforms
- Modular Connectivity: Support for diverse network interface cards and link speeds
- High Availability: Configuration for N+1 redundancy and stateful session failover
Technical Approach
/table
Challenge | Solution
Multi-VNF execution | Dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon processors (up to 40 cores each)
Cryptographic workload offloading | Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) acceleration
DPDK packet processing performance | Intel DPDK support with in-kernel and user-space drivers
Flexible network interfaces | 8 LAN module slots supporting PCIe 3.0 and 4.0
NFV infrastructure compliance | Intel Select Solution NFVI certification completed
Modular NIC support | Hot-pluggable LAN modules for easy upgrades
/endtable
The NSA 7150 platform is built around 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (Whitley microarchitecture). Each processor delivers up to 40 cores with integrated security extensions (Intel AES-NI, SHA extensions) and support for Intel's Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) for high-performance packet processing. Intel QAT hardware acceleration offloads encryption and cryptographic operations, preserving CPU cycles for network functions execution.
Implementation Notes
Specifications Snapshot
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Specification | Detail
Processor | Dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon (up to 40 cores each)
Total Cores | Up to 80 cores (with hyperthreading support)
Memory | Up to 2.56TB DDR4 (24 DIMM slots)
Acceleration | Intel QAT with DPDK support
LAN Module Slots | 8 slots (PCIe 3.0/4.0 support)
Form Factor | 2U rackmount
Power Supply | Redundant PSU (up to 2700W)
Certification | Intel Select Solution NFVI compliant
/endtable
NFV Deployment Architecture
The NSA 7150 serves as the compute foundation for NFV infrastructure, hosting virtualized network functions through hypervisors (KVM, VMware ESXi) or containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). Typical deployments include:
VNF Examples:
- Virtual Firewalls: Stateful packet filtering and connection tracking with rule evaluation acceleration
- VPN Gateways: IPsec/TLS termination with QAT-accelerated encryption/decryption
- Routing Functions: BGP/OSPF routing engines with DPDK-accelerated forwarding
- Deep Packet Inspection: Protocol analysis and threat detection with signature matching
- Load Balancers: Connection distribution and health checking across backend servers
Hardware Acceleration:
- QAT Crypto: Offloads AES, SHA, and public-key cryptography operations, reducing CPU consumption from 20-40% to <5%
- DPDK Packet Processing: User-space packet processing library bypasses kernel networking stack, achieving sub-microsecond latency
- Intel AES-NI: CPU instruction set for efficient AES encryption within VNF applications
Network Connectivity:
The eight LAN module slots accommodate various interface options:
- 10GbE: Standard Ethernet for administrative and management traffic
- 40GbE: Aggregated bandwidth for high-throughput VNF interconnects
- 100GbE: Core network interconnects for service provider deployments
- PCIe 4.0 Modules: Future-proof expansion supporting next-generation 200GbE interfaces
Typical connectivity configuration:
- 2-4 Slots: Management and administrative access
- 4-6 Slots: Data plane traffic distribution
- 2 Slots: High-availability heartbeat and state synchronization (optional)
Virtualization and Orchestration:
Supported hypervisors and platforms:
- Linux KVM: Native virtualization with libvirt management
- VMware ESXi: Commercial hypervisor with vSphere integration
- OpenStack: NFV orchestration and lifecycle management
- Kubernetes: Container-based VNF execution with CNI networking
Orchestration integration enables:
- Automated VNF Deployment: Rapid provisioning of network functions without manual configuration
- Resource Allocation: CPU pinning, NUMA awareness, and memory binding for performance optimization
- Service Chaining: Ordered packet flow through multiple VNF instances
- Failover Management: Automatic state migration and session recovery on hardware failure
Key Takeaways
1. High-Core-Count Processing: Up to 80 cores (dual 40-core Xeon processors) enable multi-function execution without serialization.
2. Hardware Acceleration: Intel QAT offloads cryptographic workloads, reducing CPU consumption and enabling sustainable VNF scaling.
3. NFV Standards Compliance: Intel Select Solution NFVI certification validates compatibility with industry frameworks and orchestration platforms.
4. Modular Connectivity: Eight LAN module slots support diverse network interfaces from 10GbE to future 200GbE standards.
5. Scalable Architecture: Redundant power supplies, high-capacity memory (2.56TB), and fault-tolerant design support carrier-grade deployments.
Contact NEXCOM
For specifications, availability, and technical inquiries, contact NEXCOM via the official website.
Source: https://www.nexcom.com/news/Detail/nexcom-nsa-7150-speeds-network-functions-virtualization
