Compact SD-WAN/uCPE hardware platform for intelligent edge networking

As enterprises accelerate digital transformation and expand distributed networks, conventional networking hardware often struggles to deliver the security, performance, and flexibility required for multi-cloud, AIoT, and 5G environments. Portwell’s new ANS-12000 Series is engineered to meet these challenges, combining Intel Atom x7000RE/x7000C processors with AI acceleration, robust connectivity options, and industrial-grade reliability to support secure and scalable edge networking deployments.

The series employs Intel Atom x7000RE/x7000C processors (including x7433RE, x7835RE, x7405C, and x7809C), featuring multi-core architecture and integrated Intel AVX2 and Intel DL Boost technologies. These enhancements allow AI inference and vector processing on a compact, power-efficient platform, supporting real-time AI-driven networking tasks such as traffic optimisation and enhanced threat detection at the edge.

Key highlights:

• Industrial-grade design: Fanless architecture with wide-temperature tolerance for reliable operation in harsh environments.
• High-speed connectivity: 4× 2.5GbE ports with hardware bypass to maintain traffic flow during system downtime.
• Flexible expansion: Multiple M.2 slots for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G modules, plus GbE SFP interfaces for diverse deployment needs.
• AI acceleration: Intel AVX2 enhances packet processing, encryption, and compression; Intel DL Boost accelerates deep learning inference for threat detection, traffic optimisation, and packet classification.

The series is designed as a multi-role platform, bridging traditional networking and intelligent edge computing:

• Firewall/VPN: Supports DPI, IPSec/SSL VPN encryption, and high-availability configurations for robust security in enterprise and edge networks.
• Router/gateway: Enables flexible routing with OSPF, BGP, VLAN/QoS traffic control, and modular interfaces.
• SD-WAN/uCPE: Supports NFV, software-hardware decoupling, and compatibility with leading SD-WAN platforms—enabling multi-WAN aggregation and automatic failover for branch connectivity.
• Edge Computing: Features a compact design with AI acceleration for real-time analytics and low-latency operations.
• AIoT integration: Supports MQTT/CoAP protocols, edge AI inference for image and voice analytics, low-power operation, and TPM-based security for data integrity.

Ideal use cases:

• Retail chains: Securely connect hundreds of branch locations with centralised SD-WAN control, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and failover protection.
• Smart manufacturing: Enable reliable AI-driven quality inspection and predictive maintenance at the edge with low-latency analytics and rugged, fanless design.
• 5G edge nodes: Optimise traffic and maintain high availability for next-gen connectivity through multi-WAN aggregation and hardware bypass features.

The ANS-12000 Series provides an efficient, reliable, and scalable foundation for modern network infrastructures, supporting AI-driven networking, secure edge deployments, and flexible connectivity for evolving enterprise needs.