Vendor lock-in
Hardware and software are tightly coupled, making it difficult to introduce multi-vendor solutions or migrate without costly upgrades or replacements.
SOLUTION
SONiC &
Open Networking
for the enterprise
Disaggregated white-box switching, production-grade SONiC, and automation-first operations — designed for teams who want cloud-like velocity without giving up control.
Open Networking and SONiC, in plain terms
Open Networking is fundamentally about disaggregation-separating network hardware from the network operating system (NOS). Instead of being locked into a single vendor’s vertically integrated stack, you gain the ability to mix and match white-box switches with different NOS options, much like choosing between operating systems on a server. This shifts network design from proprietary, vendor-driven models to standards-based, programmable infrastructure, where Linux-based tooling, open protocols, and automation frameworks become first-class citizens. The result is a more cloud-like operating model for networks-highly scalable, API-driven, and aligned with DevOps practices.
Within this model, SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) represents a practical, production-grade implementation of Open Networking principles. Originally developed by Microsoft for Azure, SONiC is a Linux-based NOS built around containerized services and modular components (e.g., routing via FRR). For architects, this means fine-grained control, extensibility, and vendor neutrality, enabling consistent operations across heterogeneous hardware. Strategically, adopting Open Networking with SONiC improves cost efficiency (via commodity hardware), reduces vendor lock-in, and accelerates innovation,but it also shifts responsibility toward in-house expertise in automation, lifecycle management, and integration.
CUSTOMER REALITY
Key challenges in traditional networking deployments
These are the friction points we hear from enterprises before they move to disaggregated SONiC.
Limited programmability & automation
Proprietary CLIs and weak API support restrict automation, slowing down integration with modern DevOps and orchestration tools.
Operational complexity
Manual configurations, inconsistent workflows, and device-by-device management increase the risk of errors and operational overhead.
Poor cost transparency
Hidden costs in licensing, support, and vendor-specific components (like optics) make budgeting and cost optimization challenging.
Scalability & innovation constraints
Proprietary architectures limit the ability to scale efficiently or adopt new technologies like SDN, telemetry, and cloud-native networking.
PALC APPROACH
End-to-end SONiC expertise, from design to operations
PalC’s open networking practice covers the full stack — NOS customisation, multi-vendor integration, automation, and long-term production operations.
Enterprise SONiC NOS deployment
Production-oriented SONiC rollouts on white-box platforms — feature scoping, validation, and cutover planning aligned to your fabric design (not generic “community defaults”).
Network automation
Ansible-first delivery, GitOps-friendly workflows, and repeatable pipelines so changes are auditable — from day-0 provisioning to ongoing policy rollout.
gNMI telemetry
Streaming telemetry and observability wired into how you operate — from baseline health checks to integration with your monitoring stack.
For exact deployment requirements, we stand up a lab environment that mirrors your target use case — so validation happens against your topology, protocols, and traffic assumptions before anything touches production.
PRE-DEPLOYMENT TESTING
Lab fabric that mirrors your intent
Deployment summary (example lab profile)
- Multi-tier Clos fabric (Leaf–Spine–Super-Spine)
- High-speed white-box switching (100G–800G class)
- IPv4 underlay with EVPN-VXLAN overlay
- Application workloads with Kubernetes-style lifecycle patterns where relevant
- Automated provisioning and CI/CD aligned pipelines
- Centralized monitoring and telemetry
- Phased production rollout strategy
MIGRATION PATH
From proprietary NOS to SONiC
structured and safe
A phased approach that preserves business continuity while you modernise the fabric.
Phase 1
Discovery & audit
Topology, routing design, operational constraints, and hardware reality - documented as the baseline.
Phase 2
Target architecture & lab
SONiC feature mapping, validation plan, and a lab fabric that mirrors your intent - before production touch.
Phase 3
Validation & hardening
Protocol behaviour, failure scenarios, and operational runbooks - proven in the lab first.
Phase 4
Staged rollout
Controlled migration waves with rollback paths - automation-backed, change-controlled, observable.
Phase 5
Day-2 operations
Telemetry, upgrades, compliance posture, and operational rhythm — tuned for production reality.
