Intel IPU (Infrastructure)
Vendor: Intel
Category: DPU Data Processing Unit
Architecture: Intel IPU (N6000)
Introduction
Intel IPU (Infrastructure Processing Unit) is used for data center infrastructure offloading, similar to a DPU. The E2000 series uses Agilex FPGA architecture, supporting NVMe over Fabrics, virtIO, encryption offload, and more.
Specifications
| Model | Compute | Memory | Interface | TDP | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPU N6000 | 200 Gbps Networking | 16GB DDR5 | PCIe 5.0 | 30W | Intel 7 |
| IPU E2100 | 100 Gbps Networking | 8GB DDR4 | PCIe 4.0 | 20W | Intel 7 |
Official Website
Driver Downloads
Linux
Related Documentation
OS Support
| Windows | Linux | macOS | Android |
|---|---|---|---|
| ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Version History
| Version | Release Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IPU Platform 2.0 | 2024 | OVS offload + P4 runtime |
Performance Benchmarks
| Model | Task | Performance Metric |
|---|---|---|
| IPU N6000 | Network Offload | Data center network acceleration |
| IPU E2100 | Edge DPU | SmartEdge scenarios |
Pricing Information
| Model | Reference Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IPU N6000 | Contact sales | Enterprise data center |
| IPU E2100 | Contact sales | Edge/Telecom |
Quick Setup
Linux
# Install Intel IPU driver and SDK
# Obtain from Intel official
Code Examples
Intel IPU is primarily used via SR-IOV and virtio interfaces. Development requires the Intel IPU SDK.
Architecture Highlights
- Intel IPU Architecture: FPGA/ASIC-based infrastructure processing unit, aimed at cloud data center network virtualization
- SR-IOV: Standard PCIe virtualization interface, integrating with cloud management platforms
Model Compatibility
| Model/Framework | Support Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OpenStack | ✅ | Virtualization integration |
| Kubernetes | ✅ | CNI plugin |
| AI Frameworks | N/A | DPU is not an AI accelerator |
Related Products
If you are evaluating alternatives, the following products may also fit your scenario:
- NVIDIA BlueField DPU — NVIDIA (DPU Data Processing Unit)
- AMD Pensando — AMD (DPU Data Processing Unit)
- Intel GPU — Intel (GPU Graphics Processor)
- NVIDIA GPU / CUDA — NVIDIA (GPU Graphics Processor)
- AMD ROCm / GPU — AMD (GPU Graphics Processor)