Keynote

FlexSFP: Rethinking Network Intelligence Inside the Cable

Abstract

Network programmability has progressively colonized every component of the data plane. Hosts run XDP, NICs have evolved into SmartNICs and DPUs, switches expose P4 pipelines, and the softwarization of network and service management has become a dominant design principle. This evolution, however, has been uneven. SmartNICs and programmable switches are disproportionate in cost and power for the long tail of simple, high-frequency operations such as filtering, tagging, and basic telemetry, and their adoption typically requires replacing existing hardware rather than augmenting it. As a consequence, large portions of operational networks remain non-programmable. FlexSFP explores an alternative direction. By embedding an FPGA inside a standard SFP+ form factor, it introduces a third path for in-line packet processing that complements host CPUs and SmartNICs, deployable incrementally on legacy infrastructure with no changes to the switch chassis or its control software. The keynote presents the motivations behind FlexSFP, its architecture and programming model, a working 10 Gbps prototype, and representative use cases ranging from per-port security enforcement to in-band telemetry and edge acceleration, before closing on open research questions and on how programmable optics can extend softwarized network and service management down to the optical edge.

Speaker

Angelo Tulumello is Head of Research at CNIT – NAMLab, based at the University of Roma Tor Vergata, where he leads activities on programmable networks, FPGA-based packet processing, and network security.