The Offloading Dilemma: Exploring the Boundaries of Programmable Data Planes

In-Network Computing (INC) is transforming how we design and evaluate modern networks by enabling programmable data planes to execute computational tasks at line rate. However, deciding which functions to offload, to which device and using which strategy is not a trivial task. This PhD project explores the opportunities, challenges and boundaries of offloading network functions and application logic to programmable switches and SmartNICs. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate that INC-based solutions enhance both network efficiency and application performance. On the other hand, we also demonstrate the tradeoffs of these offloadings and how they can impact the infrastructure in terms of performance and resource utilization. Our findings provide actionable insights for the deployment of INC in real-world scenarios, highlighting where offloading delivers the most value and where traditional approaches remain preferable.