Advantech Boosts White-box Server and Network Appliance Range with 2nd Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors

The system upgrades now shipping

• Accelerate time-to-market as Intel® Select Solutions. Advantech commits to verify NFVI platforms
• Significantly improve network infrastructure efficiency
• Enable scalable bandwidth performance and lower TCO

TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 2, 2019 – Advantech (TWSE: 2395.TW) – today announced upgrades across its entire range of networking and edge compute platforms from single processor white box appliances with 60 to 300 Gbps throughput capabilities and up to 400Gbps on dual processor servers. These servers are ideal for applications such as provider edge network gateways, security gateways and border routing, and have been designed for more demanding Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) workloads. Selected platforms will be verified as Intel® Select Solutions that meet second generation validation and test criteria, enabling developers with immediate access to pre-qualified hardware.

Powered by 2nd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors, the upgraded platforms will allow Communication Service Providers (CommSPs) to leverage the benefits of higher packet processing throughput and increased virtual machine density across a fully scalable product line with more processor cores and higher base frequencies. Current installations which deploy Open Virtual Switch (OVS) infrastructure will gain immediate benefits.

CommSPs preparing next generation product rollouts will also be able to tap into the new performance gains on field-proven systems. Platforms upgraded to the 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, a socket compatible replacement with the previous generation CPUs, have been successfully deployed in a wide range of provider edge applications and already offer fast PCI Gen 3 based network I/O along with the improved memory bandwidth, capacity and costs of DDR4 technology.

The performance upgrades will bring a significant boost to applications requiring the highest speed packet handling and flow processing on Intel architecture in use cases such as policy control and enforcement, carrier-grade NAT, quality-of-service, network security and network analytics.

Advantech’s white box servers and network appliances have been designed to replace proprietary appliances, routers and gateways with an open programmable off-the-shelf model entirely based on processors and network interfaces from Intel. When deployed as virtual network elements the combined hardware and software solutions provide the functionality of legacy, fixed-function appliances with more flexibility and lower cost.

High Performance Computing (HPC) in visualization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) workload performance has also been improved with the introduction of Intel® Deep Learning Boost (Intel® DL Boost) with Vector Neural Network Instructions (VNNI), designed to increase the throughput of tight inner convolutional loop operations. The new extension reduces the memory bandwidth required to perform deep learning operations and will improve the performance of image matching algorithms on Advantech white box servers deployed at the virtual edge.

Advantech currently offers two verified Intel® Select Solutions, based on Intel’s previous platforms that simplify and accelerate deployment of workload-optimized infrastructure. Advantech offers Intel Select Solution for NFVI and Intel® Select Solution for Professional Visualization. Advantech anticipates providing these solutions on the new 2nd generation Intel Xeon Scalable processor.

“Off the shelf availability of Advantech platforms in phase with Intel silicon release drives immediate performance improvements for our customers, enables gains in infrastructure efficiency, and brings important product life cycle extensions to existing installations.” said James Yang, VP Advantech Networks & Communications Group.

The platform upgrades announced today include both single and dual processor designs

Single Processor Platforms with up to 300Gbps throughput

The FWA-6070 and FWA-5070 network appliances are both single socket designs equipped with the 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, well suited to handle ADC security functions, remote access and access policy management, with built-in acceleration for data compression and encryption. For Router, NGFW, Firewall, IPS/IDS, and UTM markets, both models bring significant cost savings to next generation designs where a broad choice of Intel Xeon Scalable processors and Intel® QuickAssist Technology (Intel® QAT) will allow vendors to cost-optimize compute and acceleration for a desired workload and throughput.

Single socket designs with higher core count processor SKUs offer customers further economies of scale over dual socket designs at lower power budgets while meeting the workload demand for mid to lower high-range deployments. The appliances can be fully configured for virtual networking workloads requiring high-speed packet processing, encryption and compression or for bare metal deployments.

The SKY-8211 is ideal for software defined networking deployment and is based on single socket 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor enabling high performance control and data plane processing. With multiple front facing Ethernet ports connected to a cost optimized planar PCIe board, the short-depth carrier grade platforms eliminate the need for multiple PCIe cards and offers all the physical connectivity advantages of an off-the-shelf enterprise or provider edge router. The SKY-8211 is a cost effective, robust platform optimized for superior reliability in business critical applications. The power and cooling options along with the streamlined mechanical design make it ideal for demanding applications requiring a -20 °C to 70 °C operating environment. The SKY-8211 meets a variety of acquisition, pre-processing and forwarding performance needs and can operate in environments with limited space, higher ambient temperature and lower low noise level constraints.

The SKY-8101/8101L series are single socket, shorter depth 1U servers, available in both carrier grade and industrial versions, and meet market demands for higher performance, broader scalability, and increased security at the network edge where new technologies such as Virtual Radio Access Networks (vRAN), Edge Cloud, Fog and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) are vital to enabling the next generation of digital services. The series also meets the needs of industrial applications where cost efficient, compact, rugged and reliable solutions are required in environments with limited space, higher ambient temperature and low noise constraints.

Dual Processor Platforms with up to 400Gbps throughput

The SKY-8101D accommodates two 2nd generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, and up to four 10.5” PCIe x16 Gen3 adapters, designed for applications requiring high TDP, high speed networking capacity or longer length add-on cards. The server can significantly scale the bandwidth up and provide better cost advantages for applications such as NFV infrastructure requiring up to 400Gbps throughput, high definition multi-stream video processing and AI workloads leveraging high density FPGA offload adapters. Redundant power supplies, the ability to withstand single fan failures, redundant firmware images with failsafe upgrades and hot swappable FRUs make the SKY-8101D the platform of choice for applications requiring zero downtime. Interoperability testing is performed with a wide selection of Advantech and third-party PCIe card vendors in order to accelerate integration and shorten time to deployment The SKY-8101D will be a verified Intel Select Solution for NFVI.

SKY-8201/SKY-8201L carrier grade servers are focused on helping CommSPs accelerate network transformation by reducing the time, effort, and costs required to integrate and evaluate hardware and software configurations for NFV-based service development and deployment. Next generation central offices, telecom cloud and edge compute will require a significant boost in performance, network throughput and agility to maximize the opportunities created by 5G at sustainable costs. The SKY-8201, a verified Intel Select Solution for NFVI on 1st gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors will help close the gap and speed the transformation needed to support the next wave of applications where lower latency, additional bandwidth and increased storage capacities will be essential. The SKY-8201L is a verified Intel Select Solution for NFVI on 2nd generation Intel processors.

The FWA-6170 high-end network appliance has been designed for maximum performance, scalability and functionality in a 2U rack mount footprint and is optimized for computing power, accelerated workloads and high speed, high density I/O with best-in-class energy efficiency. With an abundance of PCI Express lanes, the FWA-6170 can support up to 8 Network Mezzanine Cards (NMCs) for modular, configurable networking I/O and acceleration. PCIe Gen3 technology on all NMC slots provides sufficient bandwidth to support multiple 40GbE and quad 10GbE modules as well as double sized NMCs for 100GbE connectivity. Support for two internal low-profile PCIe add-on cards enables further encryption offload in addition to on-chip PCH-based Intel® QuickAssist depending on the appliance model. The FWA-6170 is a verified Intel Select Solution for NFVI on 1st gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors enabling equipment and service providers to build faster, more secure networks, bringing greater cost-efficiency to IaaS applications as well as network and cyber security, policy enforcement, quality-of-service, and network analytics leaving sufficient processor headroom to anticipate future infrastructure changes. The FWA-6170 will be verified as an Intel Select Solution for NFVI on 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors.

High Performance Compute Platforms

Advantech has also chosen to partner with Intel to migrate its Intel Select Solutions for Professional Visualization with the 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors on the HPC-8212 and ASMB-925 server board and SKY-524 server to fulfill the demands of high computing power in the simulation, modelling and visualization markets.  With eight 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors in a 2U 4 Node form factor, the SKY-524 can provide leadership CPU performance per socket in a 2U compact form factor. This enables users of the systems to benefit from Intel’s experience in simulation, modelling and visualization application with workload-optimized performance. Intel Select Solutions for Professional Visualization provides a fast path for purchasing and deploying a cluster to enable compute and visualization workloads with less cost, limitations, and system challenges.  As such Advantech is also committing the SKY-524 server to be a verified 2nd Gen Intel Select Solutions for Professional Visualization and Intel Select Solutions for Simulation and Modelling ready for second half of 2019.

Related Content

Detailed product information on the new networking platforms: https://www.advantech.com/nc/spotlight/Intel-CLX

For details of how-to-buy:   https://www.advantech.com/nc/spotlight/Intel-CLX-buy

More information Intel Select Solutions for Professional Visualization: https://www.advantech.com/resources/case-study/2018-issprovis

Media Contact

Paul Stevens, Marketing Director, Advantech Networks & Communications Group
Phone: +33 1 41 19 75 75
E-mail: paul.stevens@advantech.com

About Advantech

Founded in 1983, Advantech is a leader in providing trusted, innovative products, services, and solutions. Advantech offers comprehensive system integration, hardware, software, customer-centric design services, embedded systems, automation products, and global logistics support. Our mission is to enable an intelligent planet with embedded computing products and solutions that empower the development of smarter working and living. With Advantech, there’s no limit to the applications and innovations our products make possible. For Telecom and Networking markets, Advantech provides business-critical hardware to the leading telecom and networking equipment manufacturers, and to global communication service providers. Advantech’s standard and customized products are embedded in OEM equipment that the world's communications infrastructure depends upon. https://www.advantech.com/nc.