TrustNode Research

The TrustNode is a robust, ready-to-use network processing platform with maximum configurability for bleeding edge network processing projects

The motivation for the product stems from today’s challenges in network technology. Networks face increasing requirements on latency as well as flexibility needs in face of IoT and Industry 4.0 and are prone to hacking and security risks.

Transforming Networks - Creating Networks of tomorrow

The TrustNode, e.g., in its Research Edition, is the enabling platform for this transformation for research labs, R&D, certification and test, network operators and cloud service providers to flexibly customize networks to their needs. The key value lies in the TrustNode’s very low latency (2.5μs, Gigabit Ethernet), the easy setup and installation process alongside the various customization possibilities enabled for software defined networking. Hardware and software can be adapted to your needs using free processing resources (CPU) and free hardware resources (FPGA). This gives you a great power to accurately control packets in the network and to easily measure at high precision, which enables applications like custom data loggers, complex analytics, and network security measures.

Line speed packet processing with low-cost FPGAs

Comfortable software control and easily extensible FPGA design

High accuracy packet control and traffic measurement

Use cases for the TrustNode

University teaching

What: The TrustNode is an ideal
platform to teach students
networking and FPGA skills
How: Comprehensive tool flow, reference designs
Why: Robust, full and easy accessibility, usability

5G wireless access networks

What: Synchronous, hierarchical
5G front-haul network
How: Highly accurate clock and
time stamp distribution
to wireless nodes
Why: Synchronous Ethernet and precision time
protocol (PTP)

Wireless gateway

What: Network aggregation of wireless
links
How: Low Latency and Low Jitter,
many ports
Why: Shared central MAC controller, extension
boards

Industrial network integration

What: Time sensitive networking: Integration
of the TrustNode in
Industrial networks for real
time data flow and maintenance
How: High bandwidth by using many 1G interfaces,
scalable
Why: Up to 12 TSN ports, QoS support, low jitter
(TSN = Time Sensitive Networking)

SDN Offloading

What: Software defined networking,
open flow and beyond
How: Flow Cache hardware acceleration and CPU
control
Why: Open flow interface and RESTful interface for
complex network stacks

Technical Specifications

  • Atom processor (E3845; 1.9 GHz Quad-Core with 4 GB of RAM) running
    reference Linux distribution
  • FPGA type: Xilinx Artix-7 200T: XC7A200T-2FBG676
    (134.6 kLUTs, 269.2 kFFs, 12.8Mb BRAM) configured with the TrustNode router design, which
    can be modified or replaced by users. It consumes about 50% of the FPGA‘s resources
  • Ultra-low latency of 2.5 μs (cut through) and jitter below 1μs
  • Interfaces: 12 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, Console port, USB3.0 and USB2.0 ports, and SD-Card interface to the Atom processor
  • Integrated system monitoring
    and smart cooling
  • Supporting Synchronous Ethernet, i.e., frequency synchronization between network nodes to prevent packet loss
  • Xilinx FPGA-based low-latency data path combined with Intel Atom processor for software-based data plane processing and for control plane processing
  • Licensed reference FPGA design is a low-latency IPv6 router/switch that can be controlled by the Atom processor, and might be extended using languages like VHDL, Verilog, HLS languages (C/C++/SystemC), or MyHDL
  • FPGA design flow based on free Xilinx Vivado Webpack – no paid toolchain license necessary, no network connection to a license server required
  • SDN support through OpenFlow
  • TSN support (optional)
  • linuxPTP hardware-support (optional)
  • Support of battery-backed encryption keys for the FPGA design
  • Size: 19″, 1.5U (W 440mm, H 69mm,
    D 228mm), 2.5 kg

Don't hesitate to ask for special versions. We can provide custom versions, e.g., with an SODIMM connected to the main FPGA or with two SFP ports that can be used, e.g., for 2.5G GPON applications.

We firmly believe in Innovation - and we believe in Community

Join us on our vision for networks of tomorrow, join the TrustNode Research Community

Your ideas matter!