The landscape of networking is undergoing a seismic shift. Gone are the days of siloed, vendor-specific ecosystems. Today, open networking – fueled by open standards, a diverse software marketplace and interoperable hardware is breaking down barriers and paving the way for a future of unprecedented flexibility and innovation for both data center and service provider networks. This revolution isn’t just about cost savings, it’s about building a more connected world and accelerating breakthroughs in AI research.
In this blog, we will explore the key pillars of open networking and delve into the latest release of IP Infusion’s OcNOS 6.5, the most comprehensive open networking NOS.
Why Open Networking is the Future:
- Faster Innovation: Open standards and a thriving solution ecosystem foster higher competition and rapid development cycles. This translates to faster innovation and quicker access to the latest networking technologies.
- Scalability and Agility: Open networking offers a much broader interoperable solution ecosystem offering better scalability and agility. This allows you to easily adapt your network to changing demands, supporting the ever-growing data needs.
- Reduced Costs: Open networking eliminates vendor lock-in, allowing you to choose the most cost-effective hardware and software solutions. This translates into significant savings that can be reinvested in bridging the digital divide and funding cutting-edge AI research.
This Revolution is Built on a Solid Foundation:
Remember the days of limited options like Cumulus Networks, OpenSwitch, and a few other alternatives? Those days are over. Here are the four pillars of open networking today:
- Strong Industry Backing: Major industry bodies like the Open Compute Project (OCP) and Telecom Infra Project (TIP), backed by leading data centers, telecom operators, and system integrators, have driven the development of open standards and initial solutions. This momentum is rapidly expanding across all network segments.
- Thriving Ecosystem: Driven by demand from top-tier service providers and data centers, a robust open networking ecosystem has emerged. Leading solution providers include:
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- Network Operating Systems: IP Infusion (data center & carrier networks), SONiC (data center solutions), Arrcus (data centers & carrier networks), DriveNets (carrier core networks), RtBrick (open broadband network gateways for carrier networks), and multiple others. Open network operating systems come in both commercial and open-source options, here how they compare: Network Operating Systems Showdown
- Hardware: Some of the most capable hardware vendors including Edgecore, UfiSpace, Celestica, Delta, Dell, and others are aligning their offerings to support open networking.
- Channel Engagement: Major system integrators are readily available to help you navigate the open networking landscape. Some of the notable contributors that are working on multiple projects within open networking communities and made development announcements are: NTT Data, Fujitsu, Accenture, Amdocs, Capgemini Engineering, HFCL, HCL, NEC, Padtec, and others.
- Adoption: The open networking movement is gaining serious traction, attracting industry giants like AT&T (announcements for migration to open access, aggregation, and core networks), Softbank (open networking slicing and MEC), Digi (disaggregated network cloud), Scott Data (end-to-end open data center fabric), and numerous others. Learn more why data centers and service providers select open networking: IP Infusion Customer Stories
IP Infusion: A Leader Forging the Path
IP Infusion has emerged as a prominent leader in this transformed open networking space. According to recent industry analysis, including a 2024 review by GigaOM, which awarded IP Infusion as the absolute leader for its open networking NOS, and recognized IP Infusion for its rapid development cycle, and the widest whitebox platform support, featuring over 50 qualified switches and routers, and a multitude of industry references. The company’s OcNOS stands out for its advanced features and broad customer base, establishing it as a key player in the market.
GigaOm Ranks IP Infusion as a Leader Outperformer
OcNOS 6.5: Powering Up Carriers and Data Centers
The latest release, OcNOS 6.5, brings a wave of innovation to both service provider (SP) and data center (DC) environments. Here’s a glimpse into the exciting new features:
- Enhanced Network Monitoring:
- Streaming telemetry with Google Network Management Interface (gNMI) dial-in and dial-out modes
- ZR+ transceiver tuning capabilities leveraging OpenConfig and CMIS protocols
- Zero touch provisioning (ZTP) on data ports
- Advanced Routing and Bandwidth Optimization:
- RSVP-TE dynamic facility backup
- Scalability Enhancements:
- EVPN E-Tree
- IPv6 multicast for data centers
- Expanded Hardware Ecosystem:
- UfiSpace S9600-28DX, 100/400GE Open Router
- UfiSpace S9110-32X 100GE Open Leaf or Spine Switch
- Edgecore AS4625 54T, 1/10GE Open Leaf or Management Switch
Explore the Full Feature List Presented in OcNOS 6.5 GA
Embrace the Open Networking Future with OcNOS 6.5
Don’t miss out on the open networking revolution. Contact IP Infusion today and unlock the full potential of your network with OcNOS 6.5. To explore the latest features of OcNOS 6.5 and see how it can benefit your network, visit www.ipinfusion.com
Victor Khen is the Partner Marketing Manager for IP Infusion.