DDoS mitigation service
- DDoS Mitigation Service - Server Configuration Documentation
Introduction
This document details the hardware configuration for a dedicated DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) mitigation service. This configuration is designed to absorb and filter malicious traffic, ensuring the availability of protected services. It focuses on high throughput, low latency, and scalability. This service is intended to be deployed in a data center environment with robust network connectivity. This documentation outlines the hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparison with similar configurations, and maintenance considerations. This is a highly specialized configuration and requires trained personnel for deployment and maintenance. See Server Deployment Procedures for further details.
1. Hardware Specifications
This DDoS mitigation service leverages a distributed architecture, utilizing multiple interconnected servers to provide redundancy and scale. The following specifications detail a single server node within this distributed system. A typical deployment would consist of a cluster of 4-16 of these nodes, managed by a central control plane (detailed in DDoS Mitigation Control Plane).
Component | Specification | Details |
---|---|---|
CPU | Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 | 40 Cores / 80 Threads per CPU, Base Clock 2.3 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz, Total 80 Cores / 160 Threads. Supports AVX-512 instruction set for accelerated packet processing. See CPU Performance Analysis for details. |
RAM | 512 GB DDR4 ECC Registered | 3200 MHz, 16 x 32 GB DIMMs. ECC Registered memory is crucial for data integrity during high-load scenarios. Utilizes multi-channel memory architecture for maximum bandwidth. See Memory Subsystem Design. |
Storage (OS/Logging) | 2 x 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD | RAID 1 Configuration for redundancy. Used for the operating system and logging purposes. High IOPS and low latency are critical for rapid log writing during an attack. See Storage Configuration Best Practices. |
Network Interface Cards (NICs) | 4 x 100 GbE QSFP28 NICs | Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx. RDMA capable for efficient inter-node communication within the cluster. Supports SR-IOV for virtual function assignment. See Network Interface Card Selection Guide. |
Network Interface Cards (Management) | 1 x 1 GbE RJ45 NIC | Intel I350-T2. Dedicated management network interface. |
Motherboard | Supermicro X12DPG-QT6 | Dual Socket LGA 4189, Supports Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8300 Series Processors. Extensive I/O capabilities. See Motherboard Compatibility List. |
Power Supply | 2 x 1600W 80+ Titanium | Redundant power supplies for high availability. Supports N+1 redundancy. See Power Supply Redundancy. |
Chassis | 2U Rackmount Chassis | High airflow design for optimal cooling. Supports hot-swap components. See Chassis Cooling Solutions. |
Operating System | CentOS Stream 9 (Hardened) | Optimized kernel for network performance and security. Utilizes SELinux for mandatory access control. See Operating System Hardening Guide. |
Firewall/DPI Engine | Custom-built based on DPDK and XDP | Utilizing Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) and eXpress Data Path (XDP) for ultra-fast packet processing. See DPDK Integration Guide and XDP Implementation Details. |
Further hardware considerations include dedicated hardware acceleration for cryptographic operations (see Hardware Acceleration for Security ) and potentially FPGA-based acceleration for complex pattern matching (see FPGA-Based DDoS Mitigation). The entire system is designed for 24/7 operation and requires robust monitoring (see Server Monitoring and Alerting).
2. Performance Characteristics
The performance of the DDoS mitigation service is paramount. The following benchmarks represent the capabilities of a single server node. Cluster performance scales linearly with the number of nodes.
- **Raw Packet Processing Rate:** 400 million packets per second (PPS)
- **Throughput:** 400 Gbps (with optimal packet sizes)
- **Latency (Clean Traffic):** < 50 microseconds
- **Latency (Under Attack - Mitigated):** < 200 microseconds (depending on attack complexity)
- **TCP Connection Limit:** 10 million concurrent connections
- **State Table Size:** 128 million entries
- **DDoS Attack Mitigation Capacity (Volumetric):** Approximately 400 Gbps per node. A 16-node cluster can handle up to 6.4 Tbps.
- **DDoS Attack Mitigation Capacity (Application Layer):** Variable, depending on the complexity of the attack. The system is capable of identifying and mitigating Layer 7 attacks targeting HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, and other protocols. See Application Layer Attack Mitigation Techniques.
Benchmark Methodology:
- **Testing Environment:** Isolated network segment with dedicated 100 Gbps connection.
- **Traffic Generation:** IXIA BreakingPoint and Spirent TestCenter used to simulate various DDoS attack vectors (SYN flood, UDP flood, HTTP flood, DNS amplification, etc.).
- **Metrics:** PPS, Gbps, latency, packet loss, and CPU utilization were measured using specialized network monitoring tools and server performance counters.
- **Configuration:** All tests were conducted with the firewall/DPI engine fully configured and optimized for the specific attack vector.
- **Baseline:** Performance was compared to a baseline configuration without DDoS mitigation enabled.
Real-World Performance:
In real-world deployments, performance may vary depending on network conditions, attack complexity, and system load. However, the system consistently demonstrates the ability to maintain service availability even under significant DDoS attacks. We have observed successful mitigation of attacks exceeding 1 Tbps in size, distributed across a 16-node cluster. Detailed performance reports are available in DDoS Mitigation Performance Reports.
3. Recommended Use Cases
This DDoS mitigation service is ideal for protecting a wide range of applications and services, including:
- **Web Hosting Providers:** Protecting websites and web applications from large-scale DDoS attacks.
- **Gaming Servers:** Ensuring the availability of online gaming services during peak hours and under attack.
- **Financial Institutions:** Protecting online banking and trading platforms from financial disruption.
- **E-commerce Platforms:** Maintaining the availability of online stores during critical sales periods.
- **Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):** Enhancing the resilience of CDN infrastructure.
- **DNS Infrastructure:** Protecting DNS servers from DNS amplification attacks.
- **VoIP Providers:** Ensuring the quality of service for VoIP calls during attacks.
- **Cloud Service Providers:** Protecting cloud-based applications and infrastructure.
- **Critical Infrastructure:** Protecting vital systems like power grids and transportation networks.
- **Any internet-facing service requiring high availability.**
This configuration is particularly well-suited for organizations that require high levels of security and performance. It is also ideal for organizations that are frequently targeted by DDoS attacks. See DDoS Threat Landscape Analysis for current trends.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
The following table compares this DDoS mitigation service configuration with other common options:
Configuration | CPU | RAM | Network Capacity | Mitigation Capacity (approx.) | Cost (approx.) | Complexity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
**This Configuration (High-End)** | Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 | 512 GB DDR4 | 400 Gbps | 400 Gbps per node | $25,000 - $40,000 per node | High |
**Mid-Range Configuration** | Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6338 | 256 GB DDR4 | 100 Gbps | 100 Gbps per node | $12,000 - $20,000 per node | Medium |
**Entry-Level Configuration** | Dual Intel Xeon Silver 4310 | 128 GB DDR4 | 25 Gbps | 25 Gbps per node | $6,000 - $10,000 per node | Low |
**Cloud-Based DDoS Mitigation** | Variable (based on provider) | Variable (based on provider) | Variable (based on provider) | Variable (based on provider) | Pay-as-you-go | Low - Medium (dependent on provider setup) |
Notes:
- Costs are approximate and may vary depending on vendor and region.
- Mitigation capacity is a general estimate and depends on the attack vector.
- Cloud-based solutions offer scalability and ease of deployment but may have higher latency and limited customization options. See Cloud vs. On-Premise DDoS Mitigation.
- The Mid-Range Configuration offers a good balance between performance and cost for smaller organizations.
- The Entry-Level Configuration is suitable for protecting low-traffic websites and applications.
- Comparing against appliance-based solutions from vendors like Arbor Networks and Radware shows this configuration offers comparable performance at a potentially lower total cost of ownership, but requires in-house expertise for setup and maintenance. See Vendor Comparison: DDoS Mitigation Appliances.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining the DDoS mitigation service requires careful planning and execution.
- **Cooling:** The high-density hardware generates significant heat. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent overheating and ensure reliable operation. Data center cooling infrastructure should be capable of handling at least 20 kW per rack. See Data Center Cooling Best Practices.
- **Power Requirements:** Each server node requires approximately 1200W of power. Redundant power supplies and a dedicated power distribution unit (PDU) are crucial. UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is highly recommended. See Power Management for Servers.
- **Software Updates:** Regular software updates are necessary to address security vulnerabilities and improve performance. A well-defined patch management process is essential. See Server Patch Management.
- **Log Monitoring:** Continuous monitoring of system logs is crucial for identifying and responding to potential issues. A centralized logging system should be implemented. See Log Analysis and Monitoring.
- **Network Monitoring:** Constant network monitoring is required to detect DDoS attacks and monitor the effectiveness of mitigation efforts. Network traffic analysis tools should be used. See Network Traffic Analysis Tools.
- **Hardware Maintenance:** Regular hardware inspections and preventative maintenance are necessary to ensure the long-term reliability of the system. Component replacement schedules should be established. See Hardware Preventative Maintenance.
- **Firewall Rule Updates:** Constant updates to the firewall rules and DPI engine signatures are required to address new attack vectors. This requires ongoing threat intelligence gathering. See Threat Intelligence Integration.
- **Capacity Planning:** Regular capacity planning is necessary to ensure that the system can handle future traffic growth and evolving attack vectors. See Capacity Planning for Network Services. Consider future expansion requirements when designing the initial deployment.
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.* ⚠️