Servers for Network Function Virtualization

In this and some following articles, we will take a closer look at the new H13 product line from Supermicro. It delivers a particularly powerful and efficient solution for many application areas. It achieves this by using the latest technologies, such as.

• the AMD EPYC™ processors of the 4th generation,
• the AMD 3D V-Cache™,
• of support
  • for DDR5-4800MHz memory (incl. 12 channel DDR5 memory support) and
  • of the PCIe 5.0 standard.

In this article, we focus on the use of the H13 product line in the context of network function virtualization (NFV). What is that and why is the H13 line particularly well suited for it?

That is what this article is about.

Background: Network function virtualization - what is it?

The ongoing digitization and networking of all areas of our society has led to an exponential increase in the volumes of data that need to be transmitted and processed via networks. At the same time, modern network applications ranging from streaming services to cloud computing and artificial intelligence are dependent on extremely fast and reliable network connections. In this context, Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is becoming increasingly important.

NFV is an approach to network configuration in which network functions such as routing, load balancing or firewalls run on standardized high-volume servers, switches and storage instead of on specialized hardware devices. This enables network functions to be scaled, configured and deployed quickly and flexibly, which both improves network performance and reduces costs.

One of the key aspects of NFV is the ability to run networking functions on virtualized servers. And this is where Supermicro's H13 systems come into play. With their high processing power and support for up to 2 AIOM/OCP 3.0 NICs, they are ideally equipped for applications that require NFV. But how exactly do network applications benefit from the H13 systems? That's what we'll be looking at after we take a look at some impressive facts about the H13 product line.

The most important facts about the Supermicro H13 product line for AMD EPYC™ 9004 series server processors

• Powerful 4th generation AMD EPYC processors with up to 128 cores / 256 threads (up from 64 cores/ 128 threads on the previous generation).
• Significantly more cache: Support for AMD 3D V-Cache™ technology increases the L3 cache up to 1,152 MB. This is a 50% increase per CPU compared to the previous generation AMD EPYC processors with AMD 3D V-Cache technology.
• Faster communication between CPU and other components: through support for PCIe 5.0, which is twice as fast as the previous generation of CPUs with PCIe 4.0.
• Increased addressable memory capacity of up to 6 TB DRAM per socket, thanks to the increased number of memory channels.
• Increased memory access bandwidth of up to 57,600 MT/s (megatransfers per second) per socket, a 125% improvement over the previous generation.
• Faster memory performance: Support for DDR5-4800MHz memory, which is 33% faster than previous generations.
• Faster communication between CPUs: through more and faster xGMI connections.
• AI Optimization: Support for AVX-512- commands increases speed for AI calculations (previously this was only possible with 3rd/4th generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors).
• Increased data security: Security features such as "Security by Design" better protect data at all stages of processing.
• Higher energy efficiency: through EPYC 9004 CPUs, which require fewer servers to complete tasks compared to EPYC 7002/7003- CPUs .
• Connectivity to the latest technologies: including 128 PCIe5 lanes in 1-socket servers and up to 160 PCIe5 lanes in 2-socket servers. This enables the increasingly demanded integration and use of accelerators, GPUs, NVMe flash devices, FPGAs and high-performance LAN cards.

Why H13 systems are particularly well suited for network function virtualization

Supermicro's H13 server series is optimally designed to meet the requirements of network function virtualization (NFV). A standout feature is their ability to support up to two AIOM/OCP 3.0 NICs. Here, OCP can help reduce data center hardware costs, increase efficiency and improve scalability. OCP also strives to develop hardware that is more reliable, easy to maintain and service, and environmentally friendly. Also through this technology, the systems create optimal performance in environments where high network speeds and smooth data transmission are required.

With the 128-core fourth-generation AMD EPYC processor providing high processing power, the H13 servers are well equipped to run multiple virtual network functions in parallel without performance degradation. DDR5-4800MHz memory support also enables them to process and deliver large amounts of data quickly, which is critical in NFV environments.

Support for the PCIe 5.0 standard also enables the H13 servers to provide faster communication between the CPUs and the network interface cards. This makes them ideal for use in high-speed networks where fast processing of network packets is crucial.

In conclusion, Supermicro's H13 server series is ideally suited for use in NFV environments thanks to its high computing power, support for OCP 3.0 NICs and advanced communication technologies. They offer the performance and flexibility needed to perform virtual network functions efficiently and reliably, making them an excellent choice for modern network applications.

Which products of the H13 line are particularly suitable for NFV

H13 Hyper systems
The name says it all here. The Hyper systems were explicitly designed for extreme performance and a flexible choice of storage capacity and density to meet virtualization and cloud needs in particular.

More information about Supermicro's Hyper systems can be found here:
https://www.supermicro.com/datasheet/datasheet_H13_Hyper.pdf

And also this page about OCP technology might be interesting for you:
https://www.supermicro.com/en/solutions/ocp

Application scenario: a telecommunications provider

In our scenario of a telecommunications provider looking to modernize its services by implementing network functions virtualization (NFV), Supermicro's H13 server series plays a key role. By deploying a virtualized network core, the provider can reap a number of benefits, including improved scalability, flexibility and cost savings.

The benefits of NFV on the H13 systems in our example
Our telecommunications provider wants to provide services such as the virtual private network (VPN), firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) for its customers. In a traditional network environment, this would require dedicated hardware devices. But with NFV, the provider can run these network functions as software applications on a server that is not specialized for specific functions, such as those in the H13 line.

How the H13 product line can help here
The high CPU core count and DDR5 RAM and flexible NVMe, SAS and/or SATA storage capacity of the H13 systems, combined with support for OCP 3.0 NICs, enable vendors to run a variety of virtual network functions simultaneously. Because these functions run on the same physical server, they can be easily scaled and managed, resulting in significant cost savings.

In addition, the high bandwidth of H13 systems allows virtual network functions to communicate efficiently with each other and the Internet, ensuring high network performance.

Overall, Supermicro's H13 server line would help the telecom provider create a flexible, cost-effective and high-performance NFV environment.

Conclusion: Scalability, flexibility and cost savings with the H13 systems

Overall, Supermicro's H13 server series is an excellent solution for building Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). Its performance features such as high core count, generous memory capacity and support for up to 2 AIOM/OCP 3.0 NICs meet the requirements of NFV environments with flying colors.

As our application scenario shows, the H13 series enables telecom operators and other enterprises with high demands for high-performance NFV and power densities now up to a theoretical 800GbE to virtualize their network services while ensuring high performance and flexibility. By reducing dependency on dedicated hardware and enabling network functions to run as software applications, the H13 series offers significant benefits in terms of scalability, flexibility and cost savings.

The shift towards network function virtualization is a significant development in the networking sector. With its robust performance, scalability and flexibility, Supermicro's H13 server series is a valuable tool for organizations that want to actively shape and leverage this change.

Choosing the right server for your use case is a complex matter. Therefore, our Custom Server Solutions team is always available to answer your questions. Together we will find the ideal server for your respective application scenario with the desired performance and/or packing density at the lowest possible power consumption and investment costs!

You can also find more information on Supermicro's H13 series website.