FortiGate–3700D fast path architecture

The FortiGate-3700D features four NP6 processors.The first two NP6 processors (np6_0 and np6_1) can be configured for low latency operation. The low latency configuration changes the FortiGate-3700D fast path architecture.

 

FortiGate–3700D low latency fast path architecture

Ports 25 to 32 can be used for low latency offloading. As long as traffic enters and exits the FortiGate-3700D through ports connected to the same NP6 processor and using these low latency ports the traffic will be offloaded and have lower latency that other NP6 offloaded traffic. Latency is reduced by bypassing the integrated switch fabric (ISF).

You can use the following command to turn on low latency mode for np6_0 and np6_1:

config system np6 edit np6_0

set low-latency-mode enable next

edit np6_1

set low-latency-mode enable end

 

You do not have to turn on low latency to both np6_0 and np6_1. If you turn on low latency for just one NP6, the other NP6 will still be mapped according to the normal latency configuration.

 

With low latency enabled for both np6_0 and np6_1 the FortiGate-3700D has the following fastpath architecture:

l  Four SFP+ 10Gb interfaces, port25 to port28, share connections to the first NP6 processor (np6_0) so sessions entering one of these ports and exiting through another will experience low latency

l  Four SFP+ 10Gb interfaces, port29 to port32, share connections to the second NP6 processor (np6_1) so sessions entering one of these ports and exiting through another will experience low latency

 

l  Ten SFP+ 10Gb interfaces, port5 to port14, and two 40Gb QSFP interfaces, port1 and port2, share connections to the third NP6 processor (np6_2).

l  Ten SFP+ 10Gb interfaces, port15 to port24, and two 40Gb QSFP interfaces, port3 and port4, share connections to the fourth NP6 processor (np6_3).

 

ntegrated Switch Fabric

FortiASIC NP6 np6_0

FortiASIC NP6 np6_2

FortiASIC NP6 np6_3

FortiASIC NP6 np6_1

System Bus

CP8                    CP8

CP8                    CP8

CP8                    CP8

CPU

CP8                    CP8

You can use the following get command to display the FortiGate-3700D NP6 configuration. In this output example, the first two NP6s (np6_0 and np6_1) are configured for low latency. The command output shows four NP6s named NP6_0, NP6_1, NP6_2, and NP6_3 and the interfaces (ports) connected to each NP6. You can also use the diagnose npu np6 port-list command to display this information.

 

get hardware npu np6 port-list

Chip   XAUI Ports   Max   Cross-chip

Speed offloading

—— —- ——- —– ———- np6_2  0    port5   10G   Yes

0    port9   10G   Yes

0    port13  10G   Yes

1    port6   10G   Yes

1    port10  10G   Yes

1    port14  10G   Yes

2    port7   10G   Yes

2    port11  10G   Yes

3    port8   10G   Yes

3    port12  10G   Yes

0-3  port1   40G   Yes

0-3  port2   40G   Yes

—— —- ——- —– ———- np6_3  0    port15  10G   Yes

0    port19  10G   Yes

0    port23  10G   Yes

1    port16  10G   Yes

1    port20  10G   Yes

1    port24  10G   Yes

2    port17  10G   Yes

2    port21  10G   Yes

3    port18  10G   Yes

3    port22  10G   Yes

0-3  port3   40G   Yes

0-3  port4   40G   Yes

—— —- ——- —– ———- np6_0  0    port26  10G   No

1    port25  10G   No

2    port28  10G   No

3    port27  10G   No

—— —- ——- —– ———- np6_1  0    port30  10G   No

1    port29  10G   No

2    port32  10G   No

3    port31  10G   No

—— —- ——- —– ———-