Open Souce Network Operating Systems

Sat Jan 20 17:32:57 UTC 2018

Eron,

Thanks for the advice.

My understanding if Free Range Routing is a package of software that runs
in linux, but not a full and true NOS right?

Is pfSense 3.0 going to be dramatically different that the current version?
I never considered this a NOS but more of a firewall platform with some
routing capabilities.

I looked into Cumulus Linux, but it seems to only run on the supported
hardware which is while box switches. Can you run Cumulus Linux on a X86
server with intel NICs? Can you run Cumulus on a raspberry pi?

Ideally I think I am looking to a Linux operating system that can run on
multiple CPU architectures, has device support for Broadcom and other
Merchant silicon switching and wifi adapters.

On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 9:25 PM, Eron Lloyd <eron at mawcom.com> wrote:

> I would start with following the Free Range Routing project, and related
> but independent (and more tangible) projects like pfSense (esp. the
> upcoming 3.0 release) and Cumulus Linux. Going deeper, perhaps Carrier
> Grade Linux, DPDK, and ONOS (all Linux Foundation projects). I think
> scaling vertically from CPEs to core stack is a stretch, especially if you
> mean a DIY approach, however.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Colton Conor" <colton.conor at gmail.com>
> To: "nanog" <nanog at nanog.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:28:13 AM
> Subject: Open Souce Network Operating Systems
>
> If one were to deploy whitebox switches, X86 servers, low cost ARM and
> MIBPS CPE devices, and basically anything that can run linux today, what
> network operating system would you recommend? The goal would be to have a
> universal network operating system that runs across a variety of devices.
> From low cost residential CPE's with wifi to switches to BGP speaking
> routers. Is there anything that can do it all today?
>
>
> I will use something like OpenWRT as an example. I don't consider this
> anywhere near carrier grade, but it runs on X86 and low cost routers. I
> don't think it will run on whitebox switches though.
>
> Mikrotik RouterOS would be another example as it can run on low cost
> Routerboards, and X86 servers. But it is not opensouce.
>
> Is there any up and coming projects to look into?
> --
> Eron Lloyd
> Information Technology Director
> 717-344-5958
> eron at mawcom.com
> MAW Communications, Inc.
>