Overview:
The FortiCore E-Series of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) security appliances provide the ability to scale network-based security solutions to meet the performance demands of emerging cloud and data center architectures. Using programmable flow forwarding, the FortiCore can redirect and distribute traffic of interest to associated sets of network security devices, at link speeds up to 100G.
Securing Software Defined Networking (SDN) Architectures
Within SDN architectures, the seperation of the control and data planes adds security challenges to protect SDN controllers and applications from data plane-based attacks. Additionally, as SDN architectures are multipath environments, connecting and scaling stateful network security devices, requires the ability to programmatically direct and distribute traffic through them. The FortiCore as an SDN security appliance connects to SDN architectures, supporting both very large numbers of programmable flows and effective line-rate performance required to secure SDN architectures.
Highlights
- The FortiCore E-Series models: 3600E (10 GE), 3700E (40 GE), and 3800E (100 GE)
- Supports over 200K programmed flows in a single-table pipeline (REGEX)
- Supports over 2M programmed flows in a multi-table pipeline (Simple Match)
- Up to 1 Tbps aggregate lowlatency throughput, needed to transect a 100 GE link and distribute traffic to a set of network security appliances
- Supports OpenFlow 1.3, with wide support with available SDN controllers
- Full control/data plane separation, with an internal 40 Gbps path in support of a robust new flow rate
- Cardinal Flow Processing (CFP) architecture, support large flow table sizes without sacrificing performance
| Features & Benefits |
| Scalable Network-Based Security Solutions |
With all FortiCore models supporting 32x 10G interfaces, scalable stacks of security appliances can be programmatically attached to the network. |
| Effective Line-Rate Performance |
Combining FortiCore’s hardware-accelerated switching with its Cardinal Flow Processing (CFP) technology, no sacrifices are made in supporting large programmable flow tables with line-rate performance up to 800 Gbps. |
| OpenFlow 1.3 Compatible |
Provides ease of integration in hetergenous SDN environments, with support for a wide array of SDN controllers, including OpenDaylight and ONOS. |
Features
OpenFlow 1.3 Compatible
- Support by all OpenFlow 1.3 compliant SDN controllers
- Flexible multi-table pipeline support, up to 256 tables
- Can support >200K flows in a single-table pipeline, at a flow modication rate >10,000 flow-mods/sec
Cardinal Flow Processing
- Assignment of ports to cardinal direction (N,E,S,W), with dedicated flow processing hardware per direction
- Optimized for high-speed link transection, with support for 10G/40G/100G interfaces, depending on model
Hardware:
FortiCore 3700E
Interfaces
- Console Port
- 2x USB Ports
- 10/100/1000 RJ45 Management Port
- 32x 10 GE SFP+ Ports
- High-Speed Network Interfaces (none for 3600E, 4x 40G QSFP for 3700E, 2x 100 G QSFP28 for 3800E)
Cardinal Flow Processing (CFP)
- The FortiCore architecture eliminates scaling limitations in SDN switching by distributing programmed flow across four independent CFP units
- Each interface is assigned to a CFP unit based cardinal direction (Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound, Westbound), analogous to data center design
- Cardinal Flow Processing units can support wildcard flows that are applied to all associated interfaces, providing greater flexibility in programming flows
- Each CFP unit can sustain up to 200 Gbps of aggregate traffic forwarding, with support for over 50K programmed REGEX flows per unit using a single-table pipeline, and an additional 500K simple-match programmed flows per unit when using a multi-table pipeline
- This results in an effective line-rate SDN forwarding appliance, with the exceptional programmed flow scalability needed for network-based security solutions
SDN Data Plane Switching
The FortiCore’s Local Switch Processor supports very highperformance and low-latency switching functions required for emerging core-routed and data center architectures:
- All models support 32x 10G interfaces
- The FortiCore 3700E includes an additional 4x 40G interfaces
- The FortiCore 3800E includes an additional 2x 100G interfaces
Generous Control Plane Resources
The FortiCore’s control plane was designed to support the current OpenFlow 1.3 protocol requirements at exceptional rates for new programmed flows, as well as future-proofing for emerging SDN protocol requirements:
- Dual 8-core Intel CPUs
- 64 GB of RAM
- Internal 40 Gbps forwarding path between control/data planes
Deployment:
Scaling Security Beyond Datasheet Limits
The principal goal of the FortiCore is the creation of scalable network-based security solutions that go well beyond the datasheet limits of an individual security appliance. FortiCore’s massive performance and flow capacitance allow the creation of provision-able solutions using the programmable capabilities of software-defined networking (SDN).
Combined with an SDN controller and SDN applications, FortiCore solutions can be integrated into carrier/cloud programmable provisioning systems.
Next Generation Data Center Security
The FortiCore deploys in a path-centric fashion, allowing you to connect an array of network security functions onto any given high-performance link within a core routed environment, including 100G links. The security devices associated with the FortiCore can be varied, based on traffic inspection requirements. Using the capabilities of SDN to program network flows onto the FortiCore, traffic-of-interest can be redirected through a variety of network security devices, while maintaining the symmetric traffic requirements of each device.
In leaf-spine data center architectures, where all leaf switches are connected to every spine switch, resulting in all hosts within a data center being one-hop from each other, the FortiCore as a security leaf allows the deployment of centralized traffic inspection to protect data center resources.
Defending Programmable Networks
FortiCore supports very high numbers of programmed flows, allowing it to operate proactively, learning all required flows, thus allowing other SDN switches to forward unknown flows to the FortiCore, rather than up to the control plane. This defends the SDN control and applications planes from DoS and other attacks from the data plane.
Documentation:
Download the Fortinet FortiCore Series Datasheet (.PDF)
