DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) is a set of libraries and drivers that accelerate packet processing on CPUs like x86, aarch64, and PowerPC. Unlike traditional kernel networking, DPDK runs in user space using techniques such as Polling Mode Drivers, Zero-Copy buffers, HugePages, and multi-core parallelism. It supports a wide range of NICs, DMA engines, crypto, and compression hardware. Many networking projects like OVS-DPDK and SPDK rely on it. Ampere’s Altra and AmpereOne processors, with up to 192 efficient cores, provide excellent scaling for these workloads.

DPDK enables high-performance, low-latency networking on standard servers by offloading packet handling from the kernel and optimizing CPU use. How does this unlock cost savings by replacing specialized hardware with software running on commodity servers? What role does DPDK play in advancing Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN)?

By enabling scalable, customizable network functions, DPDK empowers infrastructure to evolve with emerging demands in cloud, edge, 5G, and security. How can organizations leverage this flexibility to stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape?

• DPDK Architecture
• DPDK Setup and Tuning Guide on Ampere Processors
• DPDK Cryptography Build and Tuning Guide