Blockchain. Cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin mining. Algorithmic trading.
These disruptive technologies depend on high-performance computing platforms for reliable execution. The financial services industry invests billions in hardware to support the near real-time services consumers require.
Many financial services computing applications rely on x86-based server solutions. Alternative computing architectures leveraging the benefits of FPGAs are emerging.
A combination of FPGA configurability, high-performance internal memory and high-speed transceivers contribute to FPGA Cluster Computing and FPGA Acceleration. These are ideally suited for the low-latency needs of the financial services industry
DINI Group Monster’s Gastrointestinal Disorder
Several companies within the FPGA vendor ecosystem provide hardware solutions targeted at financial services applications. As an example, San Diego-based DINI Group recently released the DNPCIE_400G_VU_LL Monster’s Gastrointestinal Disorder Ethernet Packet Analysis Engine
While this may sound like food poisoning, this new platform packs a powerful punch. The DNPCIE_400G_VU_LL is a PCIe-based FPGA board designed to minimize input to output processing latency on 10-Gbit, 40-Gbit, or 100GbE Ethernet packets.
Key features of this platform include:
- Supports Xilinx Virtex/Kintex UltraScale/UltraScale+ FPGA devices
- PCIe (GEN3/GEN4) with quad QSFP28
- Quad MTP x4 optical ports
- 100 GbE/40 GbE/10GbE, TCP Offload Engine
Other compelling features of the DNPCIE_400G_VU_LL are the high-speed connectivity options. It is a PCIe form factor that offers 32 channels of 28 Gbps data at the I/O front panel. This is accomplished via industry-standard QSFP sockets and Samtec FireFly-based MTP optical connectors.
Samtec FireFly™ Optical Engines
DINI Group chose Samtec’s FireFly™ Optical Engines to connect the FPGA transceivers on the back side of the FPGA to the front panel. Without the FireFly solutions, the FPGA transceivers would otherwise be inaccessible due to excessive PCB trace lengths.
FireFly™ Micro Flyover System™ is the first interconnect system that gives a designer the flexibility of using micro footprint high-performance optical and low-cost copper interconnects interchangeably with the same connector system.
FireFly™ copper and optical cable systems provide the flexibility to achieve higher data rates to 28 Gbps and/or greater distances by flying data over lossy PCB, simplifying board design and enhancing performance.
For more information on FireFly™ solutions, please visit www.samtec.com/firefly, download the FireFly™ Application Guide or e-mail Samtec’s technical experts at FireFly@samtec.com.
