Implementing and Evaluating a P4-based Access Gateway Function on a Tofino Switch

Abstract

This paper introduces an Access Gate Function (AGF) that has been implemented using the P4 language and evaluates its performance when running on a Tofino switch. Through the process of translating specifications from the Broadband Forum (BBF) for Fixed Mobile Convergence in the 5G Core into a P4 code and by conducting data plane simulations on software switch models, we provide evidence that the AGF solution conforms to industry standards and exhibits efficient and scalable performance characteristics. Subsequently, we assess the prototype’s implementation on a Tofino switch, analyzing its capabilities and limitations. The reported results demonstrate that the programmable P4 Tofino switch efficiently handles a significant number of sessions, further reinforcing the potential and practicality of the proposed solution for industrial deployment in fixed-mobile convergence scenarios.