Barefoot Tofino chip tapped for Deep Insight network monitor

Barefoot Networks has introduced software that pinpoints anomalies in network traffic at the packet level. The new product, called Deep Insight, works on Ethernet switches powered by Barefoot Tofino, a programmable chip for the data center.

The software, unveiled this week, provides graphical reporting on network abnormalities, such as dropped packets and microbursts. The latter refers to traffic congestion that lasts for microseconds in a switch. Such delays are a problem, for example, in high-speed transactions performed by financial applications.

To use the software, network operators must first program each Barefoot Tofino chip to add to packets metadata that could include arrival time, matched rules, queue delay and switch identity. Engineers program the silicon using P4, an open source language that directs network devices on how to process packets.

Network managers choose the metadata each switch adds to packets as they travel to the application. The last switch collects the metadata and sends the package to Deep Insight, which runs on a commodity server.

The software establishes a baseline for network operations, so it can identify anomalies and display the details to network operators. To reduce the amount of unnecessary information, engineers choose the application traffic the software will analyze.