Stream processing enables parallel data handling by creating pipelines of Stream Processing Elements (SPE) between a data source (typically a sensor) and a data sink (typically a decision maker), synchronized through back pressure. For multiple FPGA systems, the so-called AURORA protocol is frequently used in industrial, medical and scientific applications. However, TCP/IP over multi-Gigabit Ethernet can offer a more reliable and resource-efficient solution for distributed systems, in particular when FPGA devices are farther apart.

This Technical Brief shares our experiment data, comparing the reliability and resource efficiency of Aurora protocol and TCP/IP, an MLE NPAP Full Accelerator running TCP/IP inside the programmable logic.