A disaggregated network device is a router or switch whose network software—especially its network operating system (NOS)—is separated from its physical hardware platform. The components may be selected or supplied separately, but they still need to be compatible; disaggregation does not mean any NOS can run on any switch.
What is separated in a disaggregated device?
The separation is between the device’s software stack and its hardware platform. In a router or switch, the software includes the NOS and related services; the hardware provides the computing and packet-forwarding resources. The GSMA-hosted Disaggregated Routing Overview uses this hardware/software boundary to describe disaggregated routing.
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AT&T’s technical paper on an open, disaggregated NOS describes a software stack that can include a base operating system, control and management plane, and data planes. The hardware can include a general-purpose CPU and specialized forwarding silicon, such as an ASIC, NPU, or FPGA. Those components may sit in the same device or connect across a bus or network.
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How the pieces work together
The control and management functions configure and oversee the device, while the data plane handles packet forwarding. A CPU can run the software functions, while dedicated silicon accelerates forwarding. Disaggregation changes how the hardware and software are selected and integrated; it does not remove these functional roles.
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In this context, “white-box” and “bare metal” usually describe the hardware platform rather than a complete, ready-to-operate network device. The Open Compute Project’s Networking project covers open networking hardware and software, and its ONIE overview describes an installation environment associated with switches that can support software from multiple vendors. Support is platform-specific: the NOS must be validated for the particular hardware.
How disaggregation differs from SDN
Disaggregation and software-defined networking (SDN) describe different separations. Disaggregation separates the device’s software from its physical platform. SDN, as described in the Open Networking Foundation’s SDN definition, focuses on separating network control from forwarding and allowing a control plane to manage multiple devices.
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OpenFlow is associated with that control-and-forwarding distinction: software can access flow-control functions in a switch, while higher-level routing decisions may be handled by a separate controller. It is not, by itself, a definition of disaggregating a device’s hardware and NOS. The ONF’s specifications overview provides context for these SDN concepts.
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Why use a disaggregated architecture?
Separating the choices can let network operators consider hardware, NOS software, and integration options from different suppliers. Open interfaces and software may also make it possible to evolve parts of a network without relying on one vertically integrated device stack. These are potential advantages, not guarantees of lower cost or simpler operations. The Open Compute Project describes its work on open networking technologies, while the ONF’s Open Disaggregated Transport Network project applies disaggregation to optical transport equipment and aims to combine equipment from multiple vendors using open standards and open-source software.
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What to check before choosing a platform
The main operational challenge is integration: the components have to work together, and responsibility for support may be split across suppliers. Before deploying a combination, establish:
- Hardware and NOS compatibility: Confirm that the NOS supports the exact platform and its components.
- Forwarding requirements: Check that the platform supports the features and performance your network needs.
- Operations and lifecycle: Assess provisioning, monitoring, upgrades, and the duration and scope of support.
- Interfaces and standards: Verify that the required interfaces are supported across the system.
- Integration ownership: Determine who validates the combination and who handles problems that cross hardware and software boundaries.
There is no single performance or savings figure that applies to disaggregated devices as a category. The outcome depends on the chosen platform, software, integration, and support arrangement.
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Does disaggregation apply only to routers and switches?
No. The same broad idea can apply to other network equipment. The ONF’s Open Disaggregated Transport Network project applies it to optical transport, with the goal of assembling multi-vendor equipment through open standards and open-source software. The specific components and integration requirements differ from those of packet routers and switches.
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