A new class of cloud and datacenter infrastructure component is emerging into the marketplace. This new infrastructure element, often referred to as Data Processing Unit (DPU), Infrastructure Processing Unit (IPU) or xPU as a general term, takes the form of a server hosted PCIe add-in card or on-board chip(s), containing one or more ASIC’s or FPGA’s, usually anchored around a single powerful SoC device. The Open Programmable Infrastructure (OPI) project has been created to address the configuration, operation, and lifecycle for these devices. It also has the goal of fostering an open software ecosystem for DPUs/IPUs covering edge, datacenter, and cloud use cases. The project intends to delineate what a DPU/IPU is, to define frameworks and architecture for DPU/IPU-based software stacks applicable to any vendors’ hardware solution, to  create a rich open-source application ecosystem, to integrate with existing open-source projects aligned to the same vision such as the Linux kernel, IPDK.io, DPDK, DASH, and SPDK to create new APIs for interaction with and between the elements of the DPU/IPU ecosystem:
  • the DPU/IPU hardware
  • DPU/IPU hosted applications
  • the host node
  • remote provisioning software
  • remote orchestration software.
Want to learn more? On January 25, 2023 the SNIA Networking Storage Forum is hosting a live webcast “An Introduction to the OPI (Open Programmable Infrastructure) Project” where experts actively leading this initiative will provide an introduction to the OPI project, explain OPI workstream definitions and status, and explain how you can get involved. They’ll dive into:
  • Lifecycle provisioning
  • API
  • Use cases
  • Proof of Concept
  • Developer platform
In just 60 minutes this overview should provide you with a solid understanding of what the OPI Project is all about. Register here to join us on January 25th.