- Software DPI & Policy Enforcement -

Lastly at the Broadband Traffic Management Congress, we were asked on various occasions to explain why Vedicis was so different regarding DPI approach.

Is it a question of performance? Flexibility? Features?

Basically, yes to each question, but above all, it is a question of nature of the technology itself that is changing completely the approach towards DPI evolution. While current DPI architectures are based upon traditional network hardware either with Network Processor Unit (NPU) or ASIC, Vedicis has designed a full software DPI technology that is completely executed on standard Intel servers. It means these server gears that are shipped by millions every year by HP IBM and others, and without specific networking cards…But why is possible now and not before?

5 years ago, Intel started to invest in its new CPU generation with a completely new architecture called Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) that was aiming at achieving new level of performances without increasing CPU frequencies/power consumption. The new CPU featured 4 cores, with 2 threads: that was the equivalent of 8 cores with large L2 and L3 caches.  At the same time, the QPI architecture proposed a direct connection to the RAM through 3 channels. This was a critical change that suppressed the bottle neck from the Northbridge linking the CPU to the RAM. And all of a sudden, the bandwidth from CPU to RAM was multiplied dramatically.

Why does it matter?

With this Intel architecture, Vedicis has developed software orchestrating correctly these CPU and RAM to process millions of flows and user connections. CPU gives high processing power, and RAM (almost unlimited) enables the management of millions of information (users, content , applications…) all the more as there is no more bottleneck between CPU and RAM.  Vedicis has built Intellectual Property and its development to take the most of this new architecture. Intel created a new platform; Vedicis unleashed its power for DPI and heavy broadband management. Combine the performance of Intel CPU that is evolving with Moore’s Law and the wealth of development proposed on Intel platform, and you have the ingredients of Vedicis DPI technology.

The quad-core servers were launched in 2009, the hexa-core in 2010. Incidentally, Intel sold its NPU business just in 2006…