Cisco’s New Smart Switches: A Comedy of DPUs and Missed Updates
Cisco is squeezing AMD’s Pensando DPUs into its new smart switches, offloading tasks for security and storage. With up to 4.8 Tbps of network capacity, these switches aim to handle data-intensive workloads without needing pricey DPU cards in each system. The real party trick? They’re transforming networking into a high-speed conga line.

Hot Take:
It seems Cisco has firmly decided that the future of networking is not just about connecting devices, but making them do all the heavy lifting as well. By stuffing their switches with AMD’s Pensando DPUs, they’re essentially turning these devices into multitasking machines that could probably double as a sous-chef in a tech-themed restaurant! Who needs a dedicated firewall when your switch can whip up some security like it’s making a three-course meal?
Key Points:
– Cisco’s new switches are packing AMD’s Pensando DPUs for enhanced multitasking capabilities.
– The latest Cisco switches are part of the Nexus 9300 series, with the E100 ASIC at their core.
– Pensando DPUs handle data-intensive tasks, freeing up other resources.
– Cisco’s Hypershield security platform will be embedded in the new switches.
– New switches will start shipping in spring and summer of 2023.