NPF Delivers Software Roadmap

FREMONT, Calif. -- The Network Processing Forum (NPF) today announced the availability of four Software Infrastructure implementation agreements (IAs) that comprise the first and only open, standard reference architecture for Network Processing Unit (NPU) based system design. The four NPF IAs -- Software API Framework, Lexicon, and Conventions; and Interface Management APIs -- establish a software framework, technical terms and conventions, and interface management capabilities that provide the infrastructure for the entire suite of NPF Software APIs. These IAs deliver a rich and powerful foundation for the integration of networking software applications with NPU-based platforms. "NPF member company experts have delivered a high-value, far-reaching software framework that will accelerate design efforts and result in faster time-to-NPU-based functionality in a variety of communications equipment market segments," said Dave Husak, vice-chairman of the NPF. "These IAs lay the groundwork for all NPF Software IAs and will encourage wider adoption and accelerated deployment of NPU-based platforms. Considering their breadth, depth, and likely impact, there are no comparable or competing efforts." Providing a complete, coherent software framework for APIs covering both typical networking applications and low-level packet processing functions, the IAs reduce the difficulty and cost of programming and integrating NPUs. The common framework also reduces the need to integrate and maintain multiple proprietary code modules/libraries, decreases the complexity of design, and increases compatibility among system components. The NPF Software API Framework aims to reduce the difficulty and cost of integrating networking software with NPUs. It identifies key architectural and functional elements of network processing solutions and casts them into a complete, coherent framework of software APIs for NPU-based system development. A common framework encourages lower system design complexity; higher compatibility among system components; the emergence of a vital, multi-vendor solution space; and overall, faster and more cost-effective deployment of NPU-based systems. Network Processing Forum (NPF)