SolidRun introduces SolidWAN software-defined edge network hardware with NXP LX 16-core Cortex-A72 SoCs

SolidRun has launched two SolidWAN Linux-based system-level solutions for software-defined wide area networks and network security applications with the SolidWAN Single LX2162 based on NXP LX2162 16-core Cortex-A72 SoC designed for small offices (SoHo) and SMBs, and the SolidWAN Dual LX2160 equipped with two NXP LX2160A 16-core Cortex-A72 networking processors targetting enterprise and edge data center applications.

SolidWAN Single LX2162

Hardware specifications:

SoC – NXP Layerscape LX2162A 16-core Arm Cortex A72 processor @ up to 2GHz
System Memory – Up to 32GB DDR4
Storage – 8GB eMMC flash, MicroSD card slot
Networking
- 8x dedicated Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 2x SFP 10GbE cages
- 2x SFP 25GbE cages
USB – 1x USB 3.0 port
Expansion card I/Os
- Mini PCIe socket with SIM holder for 4G LTE cellular connectivity
- Mini PCIe socket for WiFi AP mPCIe module
Management
- USB to STM32 for remote management
- RunBMC compliant socket
Development and Debug interfaces – Mini USB, JTAG
Power Supply – 12V DC jack following the ATX standard
Dimensions – 191 x 42 x 155 mm (extruded aluminum enclosure)
Temperature Range – 0°C to 70°C

The compact SolidWAN LX2162A features SolidRun LX2-Lite system-on-module with the NXP CPU, memory, and storage, and targets applications such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) or WAN Edge Gateways in small offices or home offices. Alternatively, SolidRun also offers the earlier quad-core Clearfog CN9130 Base and Clearfog CN9130 Pro fanless solutions with 1GbE/2.5GbE/10GbE software-defined dedicated Ethernet ports that are now part of the SolidWAN offerings. More details about LX2162A can be found on SolidRun’s documentation website, but somehow there’s no info about the software yet.

SolidWAN Dual LX2160

Enterprise customers may prefer the SolidWAN Dual LX2160 hardware solution with 32 Arm Cortex-A72 cores through two NXP Layscape LX2160 16-core Cortex-A72 processors, housed in a 1U rack-mountable enclosure in order to fit into a rack.

SolidWAN Dual LX2160 specifications:

SoCs – 2x NXP Layerscape LX2160A 16-core Arm Cortex A72 processors @ up to 2.0GHz
System Memory – Up to 2x 32GB 64-bit DDR4
Storage – 2x 8GB eMMC flash (Up to 32GB), M.2 / mSATA storage, MicroSD slot
Networking
- 12x dedicated Gigabit Ethernet SFP cages
- 12x dedicated SFP+ 10GbE cages
- 2x dedicated QSFP28 100Gbps (Mellanox OCP NUC MCX623436AN)
Power Consumption – Max: 120W; average: 70W
Dimensions – 1U chassis
Temperature Range – Commercial: 0°C to 70°C; industrial: -40°C to 75°C

Block diagram for dual module SD-WAN system — SolidWAN Dual LX2160

The solution supports AES Acceleration and Virtualization, and the company also offers the SolidWAN Single LX2160 with a single LX2160A COM Express 7 module, offerings eight GbE SFP cages, eight 10GbE SFP+ cages, plus an Intel NIC adding four dedicated SFP+ 10Gbps cages.

There are more details about the LX2160A platform with the Wiki notably including instructions to install Ubuntu to the eMMC flash and use the DPDK framework.

Software support and availability

SolidRun says SolidWAN products are compatible with Linux-based SDN software applications, including the just mentioned DPDK, which provides data plane libraries and network interface controller polling-mode drivers for offloading TCP packet processing from the operating system kernel to processes running in user space. The company has also partnered with several software developers to offer full SD-WAN and security service software to customers.

SolidRun did not provide availability and pricing information for the new SolidWAN platforms based on NXP LX2 processors, instead asking interested customers to contact them More details may be found on the products page and press release.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.