DDoS Mitigation Server Configuration - Bastion

Overview

The "Bastion" configuration is a dedicated server build optimized for high-throughput, low-latency DDoS mitigation. This document details the hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparisons to similar configurations, and maintenance considerations for the Bastion server. This configuration prioritizes packet processing speed and resilience against volumetric and application-layer attacks. It is designed to be deployed as a front-line defense, scrubbing malicious traffic before it reaches core infrastructure. This document assumes a foundational understanding of networking concepts such as TCP/IP, BGP, and common DDoS attack vectors. See DDoS Attack Vectors for more information. The Bastion server is intended to integrate seamlessly with existing Network Monitoring Systems and Incident Response Plans.

1. Hardware Specifications

The Bastion configuration leverages a combination of high-performance components to achieve optimal mitigation capabilities. All components are selected for their reliability and suitability for 24/7 operation. Redundancy is built into critical areas to minimize single points of failure.

Component	Specification
CPU	2x Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (32 Cores, 64 Threads per CPU) - Total 64 Cores/128 Threads	CPU Clock Speed	2.0 GHz Base / 3.4 GHz Turbo Boost	CPU Cache	48 MB Intel Smart Cache per CPU	Chipset	Intel C621A	RAM	512 GB DDR4-3200 ECC Registered DIMMs (16 x 32GB)	RAM Configuration	8 DIMM slots per CPU, configured for octal-channel memory access.	Storage - OS/Control Plane	2x 480GB SATA III SSD (RAID 1 Mirroring) - Intel Optane recommended for low latency	Storage - Packet Capture (Optional)	4x 8TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM HDD (RAID 10) - For long-term packet capture and analysis. Consider NVMe Storage for higher throughput capture.	Network Interface Cards (NICs)	4x 100GbE QSFP28 Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx NICs (with VXLAN/NVGRE offload)	Network Interface Card (NIC) - Management	2x 1GbE Intel I350-T2 NICs (for out-of-band management)	Power Supply	2x 1600W 80+ Platinum Redundant Power Supplies	Motherboard	Supermicro X12DPG-QT6	Chassis	4U Rackmount Chassis with Hot-Swap Fans	Remote Management	IPMI 2.0 with dedicated LAN connection	Operating System	FreeBSD 13.2 or CentOS 8 Stream (Hardened) - See Operating System Hardening

Detailed Explanation of Key Components:

**CPU:** The dual Intel Xeon Gold 6338 processors provide substantial processing power for packet inspection and filtering. The high core count is crucial for handling parallel traffic streams.
**RAM:** 512GB of RAM allows for large connection state tables and buffering of malicious traffic for detailed analysis. ECC Registered DIMMs ensure data integrity.
**NICs:** The 100GbE NICs are the backbone of the Bastion's capacity, capable of handling massive traffic volumes. VXLAN/NVGRE offload capabilities reduce CPU overhead. Support for DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) is critical.
**Storage:** The SSDs provide fast boot times and responsive performance for the operating system and mitigation software. The optional HDD array provides ample space for packet capture for forensic analysis.
**Power Supplies:** Redundant power supplies ensure high availability in the event of a power supply failure.

2. Performance Characteristics

The Bastion configuration has been rigorously benchmarked to assess its performance under various load conditions. These benchmarks were conducted in a controlled environment using industry-standard tools.

**Packet Processing Rate:** > 400 million packets per second (Mpps) with full Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) enabled.
**Throughput:** > 400 Gbps sustained throughput with minimal packet loss (<0.01%) under attack conditions.
**Latency:** < 50 microseconds average latency during normal operation; < 200 microseconds under peak attack load.
**TCP Connection Limit:** > 10 million concurrent TCP connections.
**SSL/TLS Decryption Performance:** > 100 Gbps with hardware acceleration (see Hardware Acceleration Techniques). This is crucial for mitigating encrypted attacks.
**Benchmarking Tools Used:** IXIA BreakingPoint, Spirent TestCenter, iperf3, tcptrack.

Real-World Performance:

In a simulated DDoS attack scenario mirroring a volumetric UDP flood (100 Gbps), the Bastion configuration successfully mitigated the attack within 2 seconds, maintaining connectivity for legitimate traffic. Application-layer attacks (HTTP floods) were mitigated with comparable speed and effectiveness. The server exhibited minimal performance degradation under sustained attack conditions. See DDoS Mitigation Techniques for details on attack mitigation strategies. Monitoring tools like NetFlow Analysis proved invaluable during testing.

3. Recommended Use Cases

The Bastion configuration is ideally suited for the following use cases:

**Internet Service Providers (ISPs):** Protecting their network infrastructure and customers from DDoS attacks.
**Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):** Providing an additional layer of DDoS protection for their customers' websites and applications.
**Large Enterprises:** Safeguarding critical online services and applications.
**Financial Institutions:** Protecting online banking and trading platforms.
**Gaming Platforms:** Ensuring uninterrupted gameplay for their users.
**Cloud Providers:** Protecting their cloud infrastructure and customers from DDoS attacks.
**Any organization requiring high-capacity, low-latency DDoS mitigation.**

4. Comparison with Similar Configurations

The Bastion configuration represents a high-end solution for DDoS mitigation. Here's a comparison with other common configurations:

Configuration	CPU	RAM	NICs	Estimated Cost	Use Case
Bastion (This Document)	2x Intel Xeon Gold 6338	512 GB DDR4-3200	4x 100GbE	$25,000 - $40,000	High-volume DDoS mitigation, large enterprises, ISPs
Sentinel (Mid-Range)	2x Intel Xeon Silver 4310	256 GB DDR4-3200	2x 40GbE	$12,000 - $20,000	Medium-sized businesses, smaller ISPs, application protection
Guardian (Entry-Level)	2x Intel Xeon E-2336	128 GB DDR4-3200	2x 10GbE	$5,000 - $10,000	Small businesses, basic DDoS protection, single application
Cloud-Based Mitigation Service	N/A (Managed by Provider)	N/A (Managed by Provider)	Variable, dependent on bandwidth and features	$500 - $5,000+/month	Organizations preferring a managed service, scalability

Key Differences:

**Bastion vs. Sentinel:** The Bastion offers significantly higher performance and capacity due to its more powerful CPUs, greater RAM, and faster NICs. This comes at a higher cost.
**Bastion vs. Guardian:** The Guardian is a more affordable option for smaller organizations, but it lacks the performance and scalability of the Bastion.
**Bastion vs. Cloud-Based:** Cloud-based mitigation services offer scalability and reduced upfront costs but may introduce latency and require reliance on a third-party provider. Consider Hybrid DDoS Protection strategies.

5. Maintenance Considerations

Maintaining the Bastion configuration requires careful attention to several factors to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

**Cooling:** The high-density hardware generates significant heat. A dedicated, properly sized cooling system is essential. Consider liquid cooling for optimal thermal management. Monitor temperatures regularly using Server Monitoring Tools.
**Power Requirements:** The server requires a dedicated power circuit with sufficient capacity (at least 3kW). Ensure proper grounding and surge protection.
**Software Updates:** Regularly apply security patches and software updates to the operating system and mitigation software. Implement a robust Patch Management System.
**Log Management:** Configure comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect and respond to potential issues. Utilize a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system.
**Hardware Redundancy:** Take advantage of the redundant power supplies and RAID configurations to minimize downtime in the event of hardware failures. Regularly test failover procedures.
**Physical Security:** The server should be housed in a secure data center with restricted access.
**Regular Testing:** Conduct regular DDoS simulation tests to validate the effectiveness of the mitigation configuration. See DDoS Simulation Testing.
**NIC Firmware Updates:** Stay current with NIC firmware updates to benefit from performance improvements and security fixes.
**Cable Management:** Proper cable management is crucial for airflow and maintainability.
**Dust Control:** Implement a regular dust control schedule to prevent overheating and hardware damage.

Intel-Based Server Configurations

Configuration	Specifications	Benchmark
Core i7-6700K/7700 Server	64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB	CPU Benchmark: 8046
Core i7-8700 Server	64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB	CPU Benchmark: 13124
Core i9-9900K Server	128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB	CPU Benchmark: 49969
Core i9-13900 Server (64GB)	64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i9-13900 Server (128GB)	128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (64GB)	64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Server (128GB)	128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
Core i5-13500 Workstation	64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000

AMD-Based Server Configurations

Configuration	Specifications	Benchmark
Ryzen 5 3600 Server	64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 17849
Ryzen 7 7700 Server	64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 35224
Ryzen 9 5950X Server	128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 46045
Ryzen 9 7950X Server	128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 63561
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB)	128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB)	128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB)	128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB)	256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB)	256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe	CPU Benchmark: 48021
EPYC 9454P Server	256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe

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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️