Google Cloud's C4N VM family is now generally available. Built on Google's Titanium offload architecture with 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, C4N is purpose-built for network- and block-storage-intensive workloads. It delivers up to 400 Gbps VM-to-VM network bandwidth, 95 million packets per second, and — paired with Hyperdisk Extreme — up to 25 GiB/s storage throughput and nearly 1M IOPS. Performance claims include ~33% higher network bandwidth per vCPU and ~39% more IOPS per vCPU versus comparable Intel-based offerings at other hyperscalers. Target workloads include virtual network appliances (firewalls, routers), 5G UPF, large-scale databases, Spark analytics, and AI/ML inference. Available in 2–192 vCPU shapes with up to 1.5 TB DDR5 memory, on-demand, as Spot VMs, and with Committed Use Discounts in select regions. Local SSD and bare metal shapes are coming soon.
