CPU
- single instruction per core per clock cycle
- relieved by using special co-processors like DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for audio and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for graphics
- uses shared SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) to accelerate frequently used instructions (caching) and storage of interim results
- communication with memory, discs and network interfaces uses “North” and “South” bridge
- communication limited by bus bandwidth
- communication is serial
- memory is shared
- more instructions per second by raising number of cores
- more instructions per second by raising clock speed
- clock speed limited by speed of electric signals
- can be used for multiple purposes
- requires lots of power
- generates tremendous amount of heat
- requires lots of cooling
FPGA
- integrated circuit of logic blocks
- logic blocks can be interconnected to create logic arrays
- logic arrays may differ and can be the same
- logic arrays are executed in parallel
- SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) can be assigned to each logic block
- communicates directly with memory, discs and network interfaces
- communication not limited by bus bandwidth
- communication is parallel
- memory is distributed
- more instructions per second by using more logic arrays
- does not require high clock speed
- only usable for purposes it has been programmed for
- requires little power
- very limited heat generation
- requires little cooling
BlueArc
A NAS who serves multiple users or applications has to be able to access discs, process protocols and transport network data at the same time. The usage of FPGA’s within a NAS therefore is only logical. BlueArcs’ patented SiliconFS filesystem technology is the only NAS filesystem that uses FPGA’s to accelerate all data movement. BlueArc has created logic blocks within FPGA’s which take care of all data movement such as: Block retrieval, Block allocation, Fibre Channel, Metadata, NVRAM, Snapshots, Virtual Volumes, NFS, CIFS, iSCSI, NDMP and TCP/IP. These logic arrays are executed in parallel by BlueArc systems en do not have the bottlenecks of traditional CPU based NAS solutions.
