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anitsh/Notes-Introduction-to-Open-Source-Networking-Technologies.md

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Notes For Introduction to Open Source Networking Technologies
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chapter1.md

Any networking device consists of the following main components on their chassis:

Packet processor and forwarding
CPU, along with RAM and flash
Other controllers, such as a fan controller, console port, LED controller, interface controllers, etc.
Software.

Legacy Networking Devices

Along with the evolution of SDN and open networking, we started seeing bare metal switches with open source hardware. Those switches were equipped with a standard BIOS-like system called ONIE (Open Network Install Environment). ONIE is similar to BIOS in computers, and allows an operating system to get installed on a switch or router and take control of the switch packet processing.

By disaggregating the hardware and software in network devices, we can install any network operating system in supported bare metal switches: Network Operating Systems (NOS) such as Pica8, Cumulus or ONL (Open Network Linux), or OpenSwitch.

Disaggregation is a key concept for open networking. It allows the industry to create standard software products to drive the network.

OpenFlow enables network controllers to determine the path of network packets across a network of switches.

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