The modernization of data center infrastructure is crucial for enterprises striving toward digital transformation by adopting advanced technologies such as GenAI. As compute has evolved through disaggregation, separating software and hardware, and accelerating application development, the network fabric also requires transformation from traditional closed-source systems to innovative platforms.
Enterprises and service providers should be able to treat switches the same way they do servers, where they can use the same mechanism for rolling out the software, verifying the health of those switches, configuring them, enabling loads of synergies between compute and network operations.
SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) is an open-source containerized Network Operating System based on Debian Linux. It offers agility, flexibility, programmability, and performance that is essential for modern applications and services.
In this article, we explore the architecture of SONiC and how MetalSoft realizes intent-based networking with an emphasis on Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP).
SONiC Architecture:
SONiC comprises several modules housed either in Docker containers or on the Linux host system. This makes it amazingly easy to update SONiC and provides flexibility for network operators to choose what features and capabilities they want to enable on the SONiC switches.
SONiC operates within the user space, with each Docker container fulfilling specific roles. These roles include Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) functions, providing a Command Line Interface (CLI), running routing stacks like FRR or Quagga, among others.
The SONiC architecture is divided into:
Figure 1: SONiC Architecture
Network Applications: consists of Docker containers hosting routing protocols like Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), etc.
Synchronization Daemon is responsible for the synchronization of the network state of the switch into the underlying hardware or ASIC.
Redis database engine (database container) serves as a repository for SONiC applications
Switch State Service facilitates communication across various SONiC modules.
MetalSoft Advantage
SONiC's core capability lies in automation, delivering operational agility, flexibility, and simplified network management. It enables accelerated network provisioning, especially for repetitive processes.
MetalSoft's platform includes a centralized controller that provides an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) for end-users and admins, as well as site controllers for out-of-band interactions with switch fabric.
Figure 2: MetalSoft Hierarchical Management Platform
MetalSoft automates and orchestrates the SONiC deployment in two stages:
Stage 1: Bootstrapping a SONiC Switch
Open Networks Install Environment (ONIE) is an open-source “install environment” and network operating system installer. MetalSoft platform uses it to load SONiC onto the switches.
Stage 2: ZTP
Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) enables the secure deployment of network switching infrastructure from the MetalSoft platform using a fully automated workflow, thereby eliminating human error and drastically reducing manual labor.
MetalSoft facilitates the implementation of 'Intent-based Networking' by empowering end users and administrators to outline the desired end state using Infrastructure Editor. It achieves this by abstracting the complexities of provisioning the underlying switch fabric.
MetalSoft collaborated extensively with Dell Technologies, accomplishing complete automation for Dell's Enterprise SONiC Distribution designed for its Z and S series switches, catering to various topologies, including Leaf-Spine.
Conclusion:
A consistent trend is emerging among service providers and enterprise customers, indicating a strong inclination toward an open ecosystem for networks such as SONiC. As networks continue to grow and evolve, the community-driven architecture will consistently introduce new features and functionalities to meet those evolving needs.
Our commitment to SONiC is evident through our membership in OCP (Open Compute Project) and our active contributions across various domains.
The MetalSoft platform provides unified network, server, and storage automation capabilities, which significantly improves the overall agility of operations.