Dell Networking Operating System

Dell Networking Operating System 10 (OS10) is the software platform providing abstraction of network equipment using a standard set of the API interfaces.

The network operating system provides:

• coordination between computing and network resources of a data processing center;
• the built-in compatibility of the existing network components;
• convenience of programming within Wednesday.

Coordination between resources

Using OS10 it is possible to provide coordination between computing and network resources for divisions of system operators (SysOps) for which abilities to manage at the level of the server are required.

Dell Networking OS10 allows:

• expand both computing, and network capabilities of Linux;
• cut down expenses using conventional processes of optimization and service of computing and network infrastructure;
• simplify management of networks, their control and automation using standard tools.

Simple transition to open networks

Dell Networking OS10 includes traditional integration tools of network, allowing:

• use the existing configurations and projects of network;
• give to network operators an opportunity to continue to use commands and scenarios of the command line interface;
• help operation personnel upon transition from several groups to one with the convenient speed of a plant louse of employees in process of transition of network to completely open disaggregation of network.

Freedom of programming

Besides, OS10 will allow to expand an integration scale and control for divisions of development and operation (DevOps), up to a possibility of object definition as the separate managed entity within the platform.

As the result, the companies will be able:

• Use a large ecosystem of proprietary applications and the Linux automation equipment for optimization of networks of data processing centers;
• Promote implementation of innovations thanks to ample opportunities of integration and the high level of behavioural management;
• Prepare the network assets for the future thanks to compliance to project requirements of Open Compute Project.^[1]

2017: SmartFabric Services function

Dell EMC in November, 2017 equipped the network operating system OS10 Enterprise Edition with the SmartFabric Services function.

The function developed for private cloud environments, hyper convergent infrastructures and storage systems simplifies and automates process of creation and management of matrixes of data processing centers.

In particular, SmartFabric Services provides:

• possibility of automatic creation and management of architecture like leaf-spine;
• automation of transactions in network factory taking into account network condition, automatic expansion of factory, check of topology and the help in updating;
• autonomous creation, management and fault recovery in factory;
• uniform control panel all switches of factory as one logical chassis.

2016: Announcement

In January, 2016 the Dell company (division of Dell Networking) within an initiative of Open Networking submitted the Dell Networking Operating System 10 (OS10) operating system. OS10 expands possibilities of modern DPCs due to disaggregating of the network software that provides to customers additional degree of freedom in the choice of the software used in IT processes.

Disaggregating of a stack of network OS

OS10 platform meets the last requirements to modularity of the open source software that allows customers to create the most effective and flexible network systems. OS10 includes the basic module and different optional modules of applications. If earlier network OS were delivered in the inseparable assemblies intended for the solution of specific objectives, then now these components are separated.

• Basic module OS10. It is available free of charge and represents the unmodified Linux distribution kit open source. Operating systems based on Linux — some of the most popular in the world, they are capable to offer uniform language of interaction for different IT layers, including network, storages and servers. During the work with the basic module all advantages of Linux community are available to customers.

The basic module OS10 contains the Switch Abstraction Interface (SAI) interface from Open Compute Project which provides a uniform and convenient programming language in development between the network operating systems of producers and specific chips installed in switches. Today SAI helps providers of web services and cloud services to use the newest developments of the semiconductor industry due to providing an opportunity to program switches more granulyarno.

• Modules of OS10 applications. OS10 operating system is capable to support traditional network functions (L2/L3 protocols) offered by Dell company and also the numerous third-party and native Linux applications open source, including applications for routing, network factory, security, management and automation. It allows customers to select IT resources for different scenarios and to appoint them for the solution of various tasks.

From network transactions to development

The unmodified kernel of Linux which is the cornerstone of OS10 bears obvious advantages to customers who aim to derive the maximum benefit not only from network technologies, but also from technologies of storage and data processing. First of all, OS10 will be interesting to the network administrators wishing to have ampler opportunities in the development plan of applications under themselves. However not smaller interest is expected from community DevOps which aims to receive a unified environment of development for servers, storage systems and network elements.

Notes