What is onos?
ONOS stands for Open Network Operating System. It is a free, open‑source software platform that runs on top of network hardware (like switches and routers) and lets you control the whole network from a single, centralized computer. Think of it as the “brain” that tells all the network devices what to do, using the principles of Software‑Defined Networking (SDN).
Let's break it down
- Open: Anyone can view, modify, and share the source code.
- Network: It works with the devices that move data (packets) around the internet or a private network.
- Operating System: Just like Windows or Linux runs on a PC, ONOS runs on a server and manages network resources.
- SDN Controller: It receives high‑level instructions (e.g., “send video traffic fast”) and translates them into low‑level commands for each switch.
- Distributed Core: ONOS can run on several servers at once, sharing the workload and staying alive even if one server fails.
Why does it matter?
Traditional networks are built from many independent devices, each with its own configuration, making changes slow and error‑prone. ONOS centralizes control, so you can:
- Deploy new services quickly.
- Optimize traffic in real time.
- Reduce operational costs by automating routine tasks.
- Build more reliable networks because the distributed design avoids single points of failure.
Where is it used?
- Telecommunications carriers building 5G and fiber backbones.
- Data centers that need fast, programmable networking for cloud services.
- Enterprises that want to automate campus or WAN networks.
- Research labs experimenting with new routing algorithms or network slicing.
- Smart city projects that connect sensors, traffic lights, and public Wi‑Fi under a single control plane.
Good things about it
- Open source: No licensing fees and a large community contributes improvements.
- Scalable: Can manage thousands of switches and millions of flows.
- High availability: Distributed architecture keeps the network running even if a node crashes.
- Extensible: Developers can add custom applications (e.g., security monitoring, traffic engineering) through well‑defined APIs.
- Vendor‑agnostic: Works with hardware from many manufacturers that support standard SDN protocols like OpenFlow.
Not-so-good things
- Steep learning curve: Understanding SDN concepts and ONOS’s architecture can be challenging for beginners.
- Maturity: While stable, it may lack some polish or features found in commercial, vendor‑specific controllers.
- Hardware compatibility: Not all legacy switches support the required SDN protocols, so upgrades may be needed.
- Operational shift: Moving from a distributed, device‑centric model to a centralized controller requires changes in processes and staff training.
- Community support variability: Response times and documentation quality can vary compared to paid support contracts.