White Boxing

A white box is a switch/router manufactured from commodity components that allows different Network Operating Systems (NOSs) to be run on the same piece of commodity hardware, decoupling the NOS software from the hardware. White boxes, first deployed widely in data centres, offer an impressive forwarding capacity for a very low price. Although current NOS platforms do not provide all the features required by NRENs, the white box approach has the advantage of improving an NREN’s level of independence from router vendors and could thus change the way NRENs manage their network deployments.

The work reported here is a study of white box usage in the NREN context with the perspective of deploying them in production. However, the business decision to go into production is not only based on technical considerations and total cost of ownership but also on internal organisational constraints (such as team workload, capacity to hire staff, strategic plan, etc.).

For more information contact us at:

gn4-3-wp6-t1-wb@lists.geant.org

GÉANT Infoshare: White Box in NREN context

You can find all the reports below:

White Paper: White Box Performance Validation, 17 January 2022
This white paper describes a methodology for testing the performance of white box network devices through the presentation of a use case, the Private Peering Node.
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White Paper: Funet CPE – White Box Edge Router, 13 September 2021
This document describes a use case and a testbed implementation of the Funet customer-premises equipment (CPE) edge router, which is based on disaggregated network operating system and router hardware. The results of feature and performance tests are presented. Download PDF

White Paper: GRNET Data Centre Use Case, 6 September 2021
This document presents how white box can be used as a switch or a router to implement a data centre network in Greece by the Greek NREN GRNET, providing the results of the first implementation in production. Download PDF

White Paper: GIX Implementation Based on White Box, 27 May 2021
This document describes the implementation of a Global Internet Exchange point (GIX) based on white box hardware and a commercial network operating system, OcNOS. The objectives of the project were to renew the GIX with the same set of features, reduce the Total Cost of Ownership, increase independence from traditional network vendors, and provide flexibility with regard to future Layer 2 core architecture options, which were successfully met.
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White Paper: White Box Performance Testing and Evaluation. Recommendations for NRENs, 28 April 2021
This document describes how NRENs can test the performance of white boxes, and specifically their control plane (i.e. number of routes) and forwarding performance.
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White Paper: White Box CPE, 24 April 2020
This document describes a white box technology pilot run for a high-school network in Normandy, France. It shows how a white box x86 server can be used as a CPE router, including the requirements, design and results obtained from the devices installed in the production network. It also explores the concept of NFV for potential future implementations.
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White Paper: White Box Total Cost of Ownership, 20 April 2020
White box technology offers an opportunity for network operators in the NREN and R&E community to gain a certain level of independence from vendors as it prevents lock-in to a specific hardware or software vendor or platform. Beyond the strategic interest in a white box approach, there is an expectation of a reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a white box router or network device. This document describes the different components of that cost and gives guidance on how to calculate the TCO.
Download PDF Download related TCO Calculator spreadsheet

Deliverable: D6.3 White Box Evaluation, 30 Oct. 2019

This deliverable reviews whether new types of white box devices can be used by the research and education community and for which use cases.
Download D6-3_White-Box-Evaluation