Myth-busting DPDK in 2020
Revealed: the past, present, and future of the most popular data plane development kit in the world.
This report and collection of videos, produced by AvidThink and Converge! Network Digest, was commissioned by the Linux Foundation. It outlines the critical role played by DPDK in the evolution of networking infrastructure, while dispelling a number of myths and misconceptions about the technology.Courtesy of our sponsors!
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2020 DPDK Myth-busting
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What the 2020 DPDK myth-busting series finds
Across ten short segments, engineers from ZTE, Intel, Microsoft, Arm, NTT, the Linux Foundation, and Mellanox (NVIDIA) join host Jim St. Leger to dismantle common misconceptions about DPDK, and the cross-vendor lineup itself is the message: DPDK is broader, more open, and more versatile than assumed.
A genuinely multi-vendor community
Arm's Honnappa Nagarahalli tackles the myth that Intel controls DPDK, while Microsoft's Harini Ramakrishnan counters that it is a closed community, showing contributors spanning Intel, Arm, Microsoft, ZTE, and NTT.
Beyond hardware and the dataplane
Intel's Edwin Verplanke rebuts the idea that DPDK is just for hardware, and Mellanox (NVIDIA)'s Thomas Monjalon, with the Linux Foundation's Trishan de Lanerolle, rejects the framing that DPDK is a software dataplane only.
Not confined to telcos
NTT's Yasufumi Ogawa disputes the notion that DPDK is only for telcos, reinforcing the series' theme of broad applicability across industries beyond carrier networks.
Container-ready, coexists with SmartNICs
Intel's Muthurajan Jayakumar addresses the claim that DPDK is not for containers, while Intel's Georgii Tkachuk takes on fears that SmartNICs will kill DPDK.
Distinct from Linux, still evolving
The Linux Foundation's Jill Lovato separates DPDK from the myth that it is Linux, and ZTE's Wang Yong counters the idea that DPDK is code complete, signaling ongoing development.
Highlights from industry thought leaders
Video interviews
Myth #10: DPDK is code complete
- ZTE hardware engineer Wang Yong takes on the myth that DPDK is code complete.
Abstract
Wang Yong, Hardware Engineer at ZTE, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #9: DPDK is just for hardware
- Intel solution architect Edwin Verplanke rebuts the idea that DPDK is just for hardware.
Abstract
Edwin Verplanke, Solution Architect at Intel, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #8: DPDK is a closed community
- Microsoft's Harini Ramakrishnan counters the myth that DPDK is a closed community.
Abstract
Harini Ramakrishnan, Program Manager II at Microsoft, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #7: SmartNICS will kill DPDK
- Intel performance engineer Georgii Tkachuk addresses whether SmartNICs will kill DPDK.
Abstract
Georgii Tkachuk, Performance Engineer at Intel, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #6: Intel controls DPDK
- Arm principal software engineer Honnappa Nagarahalli challenges the notion that Intel controls DPDK.
Abstract
Honnappa Nagarahalli, Principal Software Engineer at Arm, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #5: DPDK is only for telcos
- NTT Service System Lab's Yasufumi Ogawa disputes the myth that DPDK is only for telcos.
Abstract
Yasufumi Ogawa, Research Engineer at NTT Service System Lab, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #4: DPDK is not green
- Intel software engineer Jingjing Wu takes on the claim that DPDK is not green.
Abstract
Jingjing Wu, Software Engineer at Intel, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #3: DPDK is Linux
- The Linux Foundation's Jill Lovato separates DPDK from the myth that it is Linux.
Abstract
Jill Lovato, Senior Manager, Communications at the Linux Foundation, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #2: DPDK is not for containers
- Intel's Muthurajan Jayakumar rebuts the myth that DPDK is not for containers.
Abstract
Muthurajan Jayakumar “M Jay,” Technical Marketing Engineer at Intel, joins Jim St. Leger.
Myth #1: DPDK is software dataplane only
- Mellanox (NVIDIA)'s Thomas Monjalon and the Linux Foundation's Trishan de Lanerolle debunk DPDK as software-dataplane-only.
Abstract
Trishan de Lanerolle, Technical Program Manager at the Linux Foundation, joins Thomas Monjalon, Engineer at Mellanox (NVIDIA).
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