Open Source Networking Solutions Accelerate Innovation
OpenSource For U, Thursday, March 20th, 2025
Developed by Microsoft and its community partners eight years ago, SONiC claims to be the first open source networking software to run on multiple switches, with participation from several silicon chip vendors and hardware manufacturers.
In an exclusive conversation, Ashay Krishna, Director Of Engineering, Microsoft, explains to OSFY's Yashasvini Razdan why organisations should adopt open source networking solutions, and the role the community plays in their adoption and growth.
Q. What are the industry trends driving demand for open source networking solutions? A. Several trends are influencing this demand. First, organisations do not want to be locked into a single hardware vendor or silicon manufacturer. Flexibility to explore alternatives is a significant driver.
Second, financial considerations play a crucial role. While hardware can often be relatively inexpensive, the services bundled with it tend to be very costly. Open source networking solutions eliminate service costs, allowing organisations to set up and manage their networks with smaller teams. This can reduce overall costs by 50-60%.