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Keysight organizes virtual SONiC plugfest to demonstrate the maturity of the open source network operating system

SONiC is an open-source network operating system based on Linux that runs on switches from multiple vendors and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced the first SONiC Open Source Network Operating System Community Plugfest which will take place May – June 2021. The Plugfest will enable members of the Software for Open Networking in the Cloud (SONiC) community to validate SONiC across multiple vendors.

SONiC is an open-source network operating system based on Linux that runs on switches from multiple vendors and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). SONiC offers users the flexibility to create network solutions while leveraging the collective strength of a large ecosystem and community. SONiC is based on a disaggregated architecture (separate switch silicon, white box switch and network operating system software) within an open-source community.

"SONiC has gained popularity and development efforts accelerated throughout 2020, despite the lack of travel and face-to-face interactions from COVID-19 restrictions," said Alan Weckel, principal analyst and co-founder of 650 Group. "SONiC has gained complex features and functionality and continues to be hardened for data center deployments well beyond the hyperscalers. Community testing events like this provide the community with the opportunity to determine how well the parts and pieces of SONiC work on a level playing field." 

The Open Community Test Event will include three types of participants:

  • Customers: Customer Advisory Board (CAB)
  • Vendors: original design manufacturers (ODMs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and network equipment manufacturers (NEMs)
  • Test partners: Keysight Technologies and Aviz Networks

The Plugfest CAB will determine the maturity of SONiC on different hardware platforms from a user perspective. It consists of companies including CTC, LINE, Yahoo! JAPAN, World Wide Technology, Apresia Systems, DMM.com, Zhejiang Lab, Ucloud, Internet Initiative Japan, Macnica, Nissho Electronics, and LinkedIn.

 

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