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Accelerators

NetActuate supports hardware accelerators that attach directly to virtual machines, offloading specialized workloads from the CPU to purpose-built processors. Accelerators are available as a self-service option in the VM deployment wizard and can be managed from the VM sidebar in the portal.

VPU: Video Processing Unit​

VPUs are purpose-built for video encoding, decoding, and transcoding. They offload the entire video processing pipeline from the CPU, delivering higher throughput at lower power consumption and cost compared to software-based encoding.

NetActuate partners with NETINT Technologies to offer Quadra Smart VPUs across the platform. The NETINT Quadra line supports:

  • Codecs: AV1, H.265/HEVC, H.264, VP9, JPEG
  • Resolutions: up to 8K UHD
  • AI processing: on-chip AI engine for intelligent video processing
  • Form factor: add-in card (AIC), available as a Virtual Function or Physical passthrough attachment

The Quadra T1U is available as a self-service accelerator option when deploying VMs. It is ideal for live streaming, cloud gaming, VOD transcoding, surveillance, and any workload that requires high-density video processing.

Note: If you plan to use NETINT's Bitstreams management software, Physical attachment is recommended for best performance and compatibility.

For a step-by-step guide to deploying a VM with a VPU and running FFmpeg-based encoding, see the VPU Encoding with NETINT Quadra guide. To automate the full workflow and run CPU vs VPU benchmarks using an AI coding assistant, see AI-Assisted VPU Encoding.

GPU: Graphics Processing Unit​

GPUs provide massively parallel compute for workloads such as:

  • AI/ML training and inference
  • 3D rendering and visualization
  • Scientific computing and simulation
  • Video rendering and post-production

NVIDIA GPU options are available at select locations. Contact your account manager for current GPU availability, supported models, and location details.

DPU: Data Processing Unit​

DPUs offload network-intensive operations from the CPU, including:

  • Packet processing and forwarding
  • Encryption and decryption offload
  • Storage acceleration
  • Network virtualization

DPU availability varies by location and hardware configuration. Contact your account manager for details.

Custom Accelerators​

For dedicated hardware, bare metal, and colocation deployments, NetActuate can provision custom accelerator configurations tailored to your workload. Contact your account manager or open a support ticket to discuss requirements.

Deploying with Accelerators​

To attach an accelerator to a new VM, enable the Include Accelerators toggle in the VM deployment wizard. For the full walkthrough, see Deploying a Virtual Machine.

To view and manage accelerators on a running VM, expand the Accelerators section in the VM sidebar. See Managing a Virtual Machine for details on metrics, firmware updates, and card information.

Need Help?​

Contact support@netactuate.com or open a support ticket from the portal.