AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU: New Features and Insights Unveiled 

AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU – AMD has introduced a new Data Processing Unit (DPU). The AMD Pensando Salina is a 400G capable DPU crafted to rival the NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPU in front-end network applications. This DPU is equipped with 16 Arm Neoverse N1 cores and can support up to 128GB of onboard DDR5 memory, including the company’s P4 packet processing engine. STH spotted it during the AMD Advancing AI event alongside the AMD EPYC 9005 “Turin” launch and wanted to share the details.

AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU

Presented below is a quick specification overview. The 232 P4 MPU serves as the core of the card’s packet processing capabilities. Coupled with the 16 Arm Neoverse N1 cores, this card offers extensive flexibility and processing power. AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU, it’s crucial to point out that there are dual 400GbE connections; however, the card is designed with a PCIe Gen5 x16 interface, which allows only a single 400GbE link to be driven from the host system, not two simultaneously.

AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU, displayed here is the card itself. It features a full-height design with two optical cages and a substantial heatsink spanning the card’s surface. An interesting observation is the absence of an out-of-band management NIC. In contrast, NVIDIA’s BlueField DPUs, and even the latest BlueField SuperNICs, typically include an out-of-band management port alongside the primary data ports. During a previous experience with an AMD Pensando DSC2-100G Elba DPU in a secret lab, we noticed that VMware ESXi was not utilizing the out-of-band management port either.

What are the key specifications of AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU?

1. Compute Power
   • 16 Arm Neoverse N1 cores
   • Designed to deliver extensive flexibility and performance for complex network workloads.
2. Memory Support
   • Supports up to 128GB of onboard DDR5 memory, providing ample bandwidth for processing large-scale network data.
3. Network Capability
   • Dual 400GbE Connections: Supports up to 400G network speeds.
   • PCIe Gen5 x16 Interface: Allows only one 400GbE link to be driven at a time from the host system.
4. Packet Processing Engine
   • Equipped with 232 P4 MPUs for advanced, programmable packet processing.
   • Capable of managing up to 5 million connections per second, ideal for high-traffic environments.
5. Physical Design
   • Full-height design with:
     • Two optical cages for network connections.
     • Substantial heatsink to ensure efficient cooling and performance under heavy workloads.
   • Power Input: A standard inclusion for energy-intensive DPUs.
   • Surprising Addition: Includes a SATA port, an unusual feature in 2024 for modern DPUs.
6. Out-of-Band Management
   • Unlike NVIDIA BlueField DPUs, the Salina 400 DPU lacks an out-of-band management NIC.
   • AMD noted that management ports on earlier Pensando DPUs, like the DSC2-100G Elba, were rarely utilized in environments such as VMware ESXi.
7. Cooling and Build
   • The front side features a large heatsink for efficient thermal management.
   • The reverse side includes a heatspreader to maintain optimal temperatures during heavy workloads.

At the rear of the device, we notice a power input, which is quite standard as these DPUs often consume significant amounts of power. However, what truly stands out is the presence of a SATA port—something that is quite surprising for 2024.

AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU, we can also observe the card, which is equipped with a heatsink for optimal performance.

How is the performance and capability of AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU?

The AMD Pensando Salina 400 DPU excels in handling large-scale network tasks, such as:

• Packet Inspection
• Network Traffic Management
• Firewall Offloading
• Connection Management

Its programmable P4 engines allow for tailored network processing, making it suitable for:

• Cloud Service Providers
• Data Center Operators
• Enterprise Networks

Here’s a look at the reverse side of the card featuring a robust heatspreader.

Comparison with NVIDIA BlueField-3

• Processing Cores: Salina uses 16 Arm Neoverse N1 cores, while BlueField-3 integrates similar Arm cores.
• Out-of-Band Management: NVIDIA’s BlueField DPUs typically include management NICs, which AMD has opted to exclude.
• Network Performance: Both DPUs support 400GbE connections, but AMD’s design limits one active link over PCIe Gen5 x16.
• Programmability: AMD’s P4 MPUs provide an advanced, programmable environment for packet processing.

According to AMD, this unit is capable of managing high volumes of traffic, handling up to 5 million connections per second thanks to its programmable P4 engines.

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