n x 10 Gbps Offload NIC for NASA, NLR, Grid Computing, Phase I

This Phase 1 proposal addresses the 2008 NASA SBIR Research Topic S6.04 Data Management - Storage, Mining and Visualization (GSFC). The subtopic we address is Distributed Data Management and Access: Dynamically configurable high speed access to data distributed and shared over wide area high speed network environments. We propose a novel offload engine NIC that scales at n x 10Gbps increments through 100Gbps full-duplex. Globus GridFTP is the de facto standard in projects requiring secure, robust, high-speed bulk data transport. Splintered TCP and UDP is recognized by NASA to be a new offload technology developed by our group in previous research. We derive novel extension mechanisms which will combine these technologies for use by GridFTP, bandwidth management resources, and host cpu acceleration. The result will be wire-rate encrypted GridFTP data transfer through offload for splintering, encryption, and compression. Successful completion of this Phase 1 project will prove feasibility of our innovation through hardware architectural models, system on chip core IP, ultra high-speed logic simulations, and GridFTP module specifications.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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