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Network Processing Units (NPUs) were developed to overcome the inflexibility of ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). ASICs are hard-wired to perform specific tasks, while NPUs get their instructions from firmware on the chip that can be changed in the field and are therefore more flexible.
In the late 1990s though, adapting networking applications to NPUs was complicated because software portability layers developed for ASICs didn't fit well and there were no standard interface specifications that made it easy for semiconductor and software products from different vendors to interoperate.
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As part of its ongoing standards efforts, Intel is a leader in the Network Processing Forum (NPF). The NPF is an industry group set up to deliver specifications for programmable network elements. Their programmability reduces time-to-market and increases time-in-market for network equipment manufacturers.
