NVIDIA BF-3 E-SERIES DPU NDR/400GBE VPI Single-port data processing unit

The NVIDIA BF-3 E-SERIES DPU NDR/400GBE VPI Single-port data processing unit is a server-grade accelerator engineered for high-throughput networking, programmable data-plane operations, and workload offload. It provides a single 400GbE port with VPI support to operate in either Ethernet or InfiniBand modes, enabling flexible deployment across data center networking, storage, and security tasks. The unit is designed to reduce CPU overhead by handling packet processing, encryption, telemetry, and storage protocol offloads on the DPU itself.

Advantages

This single-port DPU delivers high bandwidth with NDR/400GbE connectivity and VPI versatility, allowing integration into mixed Ethernet and InfiniBand environments. Its programmable data-plane supports customizable networking functions and hardware offloads that free server CPUs for application workloads. The device is intended for dense server deployments, offering compact single-port connectivity while supporting advanced functions such as packet filtering, secure tunneling, telemetry, and storage acceleration.

Suitable for

• Data center networking acceleration and offload
• High-performance computing clusters requiring InfiniBand or Ethernet flexibility
• Server-based storage offload and NVMe over Fabrics acceleration
• Secure networking, packet inspection, and telemetry collection

Key specifications

• Single-port 400GbE physical interface with NDR performance class
• VPI (Virtual Protocol Interconnect) support for Ethernet and InfiniBand modes
• Programmable data-plane for customizable packet processing and offloads
• Hardware acceleration for network functions, cryptography, and telemetry
• Server form-factor suitable for PCIe expansion slots (single-slot profile)

How to use

Install the DPU into a compatible server PCIe slot and connect the 400GbE port to the data center fabric using supported optical or direct-attach cabling. Configure the device through the vendor-provided management tools and firmware to enable either Ethernet or InfiniBand VPI mode. Deploy network offload and security functions via the programmable data-plane interfaces and integrate with existing orchestration or host systems for telemetry, storage offload, and flow control. Monitor performance and update firmware or offload profiles as workload requirements change.

Recommendations

Use the DPU in servers that require high network throughput and where CPU cycles should be preserved for applications. Verify server compatibility for power and PCIe lane requirements, and follow vendor guidelines for firmware, driver, and cabling to ensure stable operation. For mixed-protocol environments, enable VPI mode as appropriate and validate interoperability with existing Ethernet or InfiniBand fabrics.