AMD Demos ARM-Based Virtual Networking Chip

SANTA CLARA—Advanced Micro Devices on Wednesday showcased a new 64-bit ARM-based embedded processor here at ARM Tech Con as an opening salvo in the company's plan to develop what it calls Network Function Virtualization (NFV).

AMD's new Embedded R-Series System-on-a-Chip, formerly code named Hierofalcon, teams up with the chip maker's x86-based APUs to perform live network traffic migration and "virtualize the functionality of a packet data network gateway, serving gateway, and a mobility management entity."

The idea, according to Scott Aylor, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD's Embedded Solutions business, is to present an effective network virtualization solution that's based on standards rather than more expensive proprietary tech, as is currently the case in the market.

"From the networks to the data center, the telecommunications landscape is rapidly changing as an explosion of devices and new methods of communication spanning videos, images, and data drive the need for more efficient networking infrastructure," Aylor said. "Demonstrated by our first NFV demo on a 64-bit ARM-based SoC, AMD is moving forward with new ARM and x86 solutions that offer OEMS and telecommunications providers with innovative ways to more cost-effectively design, deploy and manage networking services."

And if you haven't heard of NFV before, you can be forgiven. It's the name for an as-yet-undeployed technology which AMD is still in the process of defining.

NFV "is the abstraction of numerous network devices such as routers and gateways, to enable relocation of network functions from dedicated hardware appliances to generic servers," the company explained. "With NFV, much of the intelligence currently built into proprietary, specialized hardware is accomplished with software running on general purpose hardware. The resulting solution is a fully virtualized communications infrastructure—including virtual servers, storage and networks—that simplifies deployment and management for network and telecommunications service providers."

Charles King, principal analyst for Pund-IT, said AMD's ability to mix and match its ARM and x86 assets was beginning to pay off.

"AMD's Hierofalcon looks like a solid offering that means to leverage the company's considerable work around ARM into workable solutions, initially aimed at the telco industry," King said. "The fact that that the company is the only silicon vendor currently combining 64-bit ARM and x86 in the same portfolio allows the company to craft an effective 'endpoint to the data center' strategy that many customers should find appealing."

AMD is currently sampling its Hierofalcon chips to select partners like Vodafone and the company's NFV demo at TechCon incorporates network software from Aricent and an embedded Linux operating system with tools provided by Mentor Graphics.