The Azure Boost DPU is Microsoft's first data processing unit, designed for 'data-centric workloads with high efficiency and low power.' Microsoft expects future DPU-equipped Azure servers to run storage workloads at four times the performance of existing servers while consuming three times less power. This capability positions the Azure Boost DPU as a significant advancement in managing cloud infrastructure effectively.
'Designed for scale-out, composable workloads on Azure, the Azure Boost DPU delivers efficiency across storage, networking, acceleration, and more for its cloud infrastructure,' Microsoft outlined. However, there are no specific benchmarks shared for the workloads that this DPU can process more efficiently, nor details on existing hardware comparisons.
The Azure Boost DPU likely originates from Fungible, a DPU fabricator Microsoft acquired last December for around $190 million. This strategic acquisition brings expertise from a team founded by former Apple and Juniper Networks engineers into Microsoft's infrastructure engineering division.
DPUs have gained prominence lately, with several tech giants entering the market. Nvidia launched its BlueField DPUs in 2019, AMD released its Pensando DPUs in 2022, and Amazon and Google have made strides with their DPU-like functionalities, suggesting a growing interest in dedicated hardware for data processing.
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