Huawei introduces Dual Modes, Multi-Protocols, Multi-Instances (DMM) container project

Huawei has unveiled its new Dual Modes, Multi-Protocols, Multi-Instances (DMM) open source project—a protocol stack framework— that it said elevates different protocol stacks for networking application developers.

DMM is a Fast Data Project (FDP) and part of the Linux Foundation’s FD.io community, which is tailored for open source software and aims to provide high-performance networking solutions.

Vendors and service providers can use DMM with a transport agnostic framework to focus on three main functions:

  1. Work with user space and kernel space network stacks.
  2. Use different network protocol stacks based on their functional and performance requirement (QOS).
  3. Work with multiple instances of transport protocol stack.

Leveraging Huawei's network solutions expertise, DMM will make it possible to use diverse protocol stacks for different applications, as well as simplify the process of developing a new protocol stack

RELATED: Huawei upgrades FD.io membership status to Platinum level

While there has been progress made with server applications using the Linux kernel stack, current applications call for protocols that provide a strong performance guarantee. The TCP protocol often inhibits performance as congestion leads to low link utilization, for example.

Another issue is security. As service providers raise concerns surrounding the network security protocol, a one-size-fits-all method is no longer realistic in today's ecosystem. The new DMM project makes it possible to elevate different protocols for apps in a single host as well as within one app, while reducing overall development, operational and maintenance costs.

Later this month, the first version of DMM with FD.io will be released and will include a common stack API framework and an interface document. Additionally, DMM will try to integrate other stacks, such as 'f-stack' and VPP communication library in addition to improving the performance and transparency of the frame layer.

Huawei has continued to take an active role in the FD.io community. In December, Huawei upgraded its status in FD.io from being a Gold to a Platinum member.

Joining Huawei in advancing FD.io are Cisco and Netgate.

For its Container Platform, Cisco will incorporate FD.io through its use of the Contiv Kubernetes Network plug-in and the Ligato framework. Netgate’s upcoming TNSR and SCLR secure networking platforms are co-evolving with each FD.io software release.