Naver Cloud-Intel, SmartNick Research MOU
Advancing FPGA-based public cloud services
SmartNick can handle 20 times the existing traffic


Naver Cloud announced on the 14th that it signed an MOU with Intel for research and development of next-generation SmartNIC and storage network acceleration.

Through this MOU, the two companies plan to cooperate in the following areas: △Research and development of next-generation smartNIC solutions, which will serve as the foundation for a differentiated public cloud business model; △Research and development of storage network performance acceleration; △Development of FPGA-based public cloud services; and △Research and development environment support.

In 2019, Naver Cloud developed its own SmartNick using Intel FPGA. Among domestic cloud service providers, Naver Cloud is the only one that provides high-performance servers equipped with FPGAs.

FPGA is a non-memory semiconductor whose functions can be changed by programming. In general, application-specific integrated circuits (AISC) require hardware changes when function updates are required. On the other hand, FPGAs can modify and add functions without replacing hardware, allowing for rapid response to the diverse needs of cloud customers.

Naver Cloud is installing SmartNick, which uses FPGA, on its Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) service server. Ordinary network interface cards (NICs) can only handle general traffic, so they cannot perform special functions such as network virtualization for VPCs, but smartNIC cards can overcome these limitations.

Using SmartNick can reduce service delays by 2-3 times compared to existing methods that only handle traffic with software. In addition, it is stable because it can handle 20 times more traffic than existing methods, and it also has a significant effect on reducing power consumption and costs.

Naver Cloud is configuring its entire financial cloud service as VPC, and many financial institutions, including Hanwha Life Insurance, Dongyang Life Insurance, and NH Nonghyup Bank, are utilizing FPGA-based SmartNIC technology. Recently, VPC services have also been provided to private clouds.

Numerous servers on the Naver Cloud platform with SmartNick applied are in operation and can be updated in real time without conflict or failure with existing services.