Frame Processing

Napatech Link-Capture™ Software Features
Platform
Intel® PAC
Napatech SmartNIC
Content Type
Feature Description
Capture Software Version
Link™ Capture Software 12.10

Frames are processed by the IP blocks in the SmartNICs.

The frame processing pipeline

The figure below shows a high-level diagram of the frame processing pipeline. The received frames are processed by the functional IP blocks in the sequence shown in the figure below.


The frames are processed by the IP blocks in the sequence shown - frame decoder, categorizer/filter, hasher, correlation key, deduplication, load distributor, IP fragment handling, packet masker, header stripper, VLAN insert, Local retransmit tap, slicer and RX buffer handler/TX buffer handler.

This table shows supported IP blocks for each SmartNIC.

Note: Table legend:
  • FPGA image types
    • C: Capture image
    • CR: Capture/replay image
    • CR2: Capture/replay 2 image
    • SLB: Socket load balancing image
    • FM1: Flow Management 1 image
    • TM: Test and measurement image
    • TM1: Test and measurement 1 image
  • G: Gbits/s
  • X: Supported.
  • –: Not supported.
IP block NT400D11 NT200A02 NT100A01 NT50B01 Intel® PAC A10 GX NT40A11 NT40A01 NT40E3-4-PTP NT20E3-2-PTP
2×100G CR 2×100G CR 2×100G FM1 2×100G TM 2×40G  CR 2×40G FM1 2×40G TM 2×40G SLB 4×25/10G CR 2×25/10G CR 2×25/10G TM 8×10G CR 8×10G FM1 8×10G SLB 2×10/1G CR 4×25/10G FM1 4×25/10G TM1 4×10/1G FM1 4×10/1G TM1 2×25/10G TM1 2×10/1G TM1 1×40G CR AFU 4×10G  CR AFU 4×10/1G CR2 4×10/1G C 4×10/1G SLB 4×1G CR 4×10/1G CR2 4×10/1G CR 4×10/1G C 2×10/1G CR
Frame decoder X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Categorizer and filter X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hasher X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Correlation key X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X – X X X X X
Deduplication X X – X X – X X X X X X – X X – X – X X X X X X X – X X – X X
Load distributor X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
IP fragment handling X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X – X X X – X X X
Packet masker X X – – X – – – X X – X – – X – X – X – – – – – – – – – – – –
Header stripper X X – – X – – – X X – X – – X – X – X – – – – – – – – – – – –
VLAN insert X X – – X – – – X X – X – – X – X – X – – – – – – – – – – – –
Local retransmit X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X – X X X X – X
Slicer X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Slicer on locally retransmitted frames X X – – X – – – X X – X – – X – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rx buffer handler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Tx buffer handler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Tx scheduler X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X