topic Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX in Firewall and Security Management

Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

HeikoAnkenbrand — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 07:53:00 GMT

I am a little bit confused about the statement that Lightspeed applications do not support VSX.

Currently, a VSX license for 5 virtual systems is included in the base license.

Therefore my question:

1) Can we use VSX on a QLS appliance using only the 8 x 10Gbps ports (without using the NVIDIA interfaces)?
2) When will be VSX regularly supported? With R81.20?
3) Why are 5 VSX licenses included in the base license if VSX is not supported?

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

HeikoAnkenbrand — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:11:41 GMT

Is there a statement from Check Point here?

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Chris_Atkinson — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:53:39 GMT

1) Not supported at this time.
2) Correct - starting R81.20, only when a VS is connected to physical interfaces on the same SmartNIC.
3) As above the support is planned for the near term.

As @_Val_ mentioned in another thread please stay tuned for the webinars and documentation updates.

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

JorgenSpange — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:50:32 GMT

Good day @Chris_Atkinson,

Do you know if this is still the case that, it is not supported using QLS and VSX?

Jørgen

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

PhoneBoy — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:02:19 GMT

You can see the current state of support here: https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk179432

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Jan_Kleinhans — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:38:54 GMT

Hello,

you answered that lightspeed is supported under VSX with R81.20. The documentation in https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/Appliances/100G_Ports_AdminGuide/Content/Topics-100G-Card-AG/Known-Limitations.htm?tocpath=_____10 does also mention that it is supported on R81.20.

But now I got the answer from TAC and CISSP that it is not supported.

The document phoneboy linked on the other hand says it is not supported (when you look at the small hook in the table, that you only see when you read this datasheet word by word).

So the documentation and your post are contradictory.

Regards,

Jan

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Chris_Atkinson — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:09:23 GMT

VSNext is not supported, VSX (traditional) is per the table in the link provided.

Be careful not to confuse Maestro or ElasticXL applications here.

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Jan_Kleinhans — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:27:54 GMT

Hello,

this is the actual information we got from RnD and product management:

Lightspeed card requires UPPAK.
Appliances with Lightspeed card run in UPPAK mode by default.
Initially VSX was not supported with UPPAK – hence VSX was a limitation on appliances with LS card.
VSX with UPPAK support started in R81.20. This allows users to configure VSX on a gateway with lightspeed card. This means that user can configure VSX but the traffic is not accelerated by Lightspeed card. The card will act like a regular NIC in VSX mode.
In R82.20, we will support VSX hardware acceleration – Meaning, traffic will be accelerated in VSX mode similar to GW mode.

Regards,

Jan

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Chris_Atkinson — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:24:31 GMT

Note sk79700 also states VSX support for UPPAK without caveats.

Where the support differs from that which I described above i.e. mapping a physical interface to a VS I will request the specific limitations be documented accordingly (if not already in progress).

Re: Lightspeed Appliance QLS and VSX

Jan_Kleinhans — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:51:16 GMT

Hopefully change it is in progress. The information in the datasheets are false and misleading. Even TAC members, SE and professional services guys don't realy know what's correct. We purchased these cards on the assumption that this function is implemented.