Unlocking Kubernetes Networking Efficiency: Exploring Data Processing Units for Offloading and Enhancing Container Network Interfaces

This paper delves into the realm of Kubernetes networking, exploring the pivotal role of Container Network Interface (CNI) plugins in orchestrating containerized applications. The core of the paper focuses on CNI plugins, encompassing the basics of Kubernetes networking, CNI architecture, and an in-depth analysis of prominent plugins such as Cilium, Flannel, Project Calico, SR-IOV CNI, and Weave Net. Leveraging insights from past performance studies, the paper navigates the advantages and limitations of these plugins. The exploration extends to Data Processing Units (DPUs), showcasing their potential to revolutionize Kubernetes networking. Through case studies and use cases, the paper unveils the innovative utilization of DPUs for offloading networking tasks. Considering the offloading capabilities inherent in DPUs, we showcase different CNIs for specific Kubernetes cluster requirements.