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What Is a Disaggregated Open Router (DOR)?

A disaggregated open router separates hardware and network software choices. Learn which operator-network roles it covers and what TIP’s DOR-related terms mean.
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A Disaggregated Open Router (DOR) is an operator-network routing approach that separates choices about router hardware and network software. Telecom Infra Project (TIP) uses the term for open router designs across several roles, including core, provider edge, aggregation, internet gateway, and cell-site gateway. In TIP’s backbone work, the architecture replaces a large, monolithic router chassis with a disaggregated spine-and-leaf system.

What does “disaggregated open router” mean?

“Disaggregated” means the operator can treat hardware and network software as distinct layers rather than buying them only as a fixed, integrated system. Depending on the design, the operator may be able to reuse hardware while changing network operating system (NOS) software, or combine equipment from multiple suppliers. The exact separation depends on the architecture and the applicable technical requirements; the DOR label alone does not specify every implementation detail.

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TIP’s Open Optical & Packet Transport (OOPT) project page describes its DOR subgroup as working on open, disaggregated devices for mobile and fixed operators. Its specifications address software, hardware, and APIs. The scope includes several network roles, rather than one particular router product.

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Which router roles can DOR cover?

TIP lists these roles within the DOR subgroup’s scope:

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  • Core (P) router: a router in an operator’s IP core.
  • Provider-edge (PE) router: a router at the edge of a provider network.
  • Aggregation router: a device that gathers traffic from access or other network segments.
  • Internet-gateway router: a device connecting an operator network to the internet.
  • Cell-site gateway: a device serving a mobile-network cell site.

These are different deployment roles, with different requirements. A product’s suitability or conformity needs to be assessed for the relevant role and specification.

How does the backbone design differ from a traditional chassis?

TIP’s DDBR Technical Requirements Document describes moving from a monolithic, chassis-based IP backbone toward a disaggregated spine-and-leaf architecture. Instead of relying on one large chassis as the unit of expansion, a spine-and-leaf system uses a fabric of connected devices that can be expanded across the design.

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TIP’s related DDBR-PE requirements also discuss separating control and data planes. The documents identify potential architectural advantages such as independent hardware and software innovation, using more than one hardware supplier, and adding capacity incrementally. These are design aims, not proof that a specific deployment will cost less, be more reliable, or deliver a particular latency.

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How are DOR, DDBR, DDBR-PE, DCSG, and Cassini different?

Term Meaning
DOR The broader Disaggregated Open Router architecture and TIP subgroup, spanning several operator-router roles.
DDBR TIP’s term in its backbone requirements for a platform meeting those requirements for IP/MPLS core or edge, or internet-gateway use.
DDBR-PE A related set of distributed, disaggregated backbone provider-edge router requirements.
DCSG Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway, a related initiative retained as a workstream under the DOR subgroup.
Cassini An adjacent open packet/optical transponder, not a DOR router. TIP lists data-center interconnect, metro, and access-backhaul use cases.

The DOR subgroup charter, approved by the TIP Board on 17 May 2023, combines DOR and DCSG efforts, retains DCSG and DDBR as workstreams, and adds a Disaggregated Aggregation Router workstream. The charter assigns work on architectures, technical specifications, evaluation of generally available products, and testing and validation strategies.

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What to check when evaluating a DOR design

The name “open” or “disaggregated” does not establish that a particular product conforms to a TIP specification or will interoperate with other equipment. For a meaningful comparison, identify the requirement document and deployment role first, then check:

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  • Architecture: whether the proposal is a monolithic chassis or a spine-and-leaf system.
  • Disaggregation boundary: which hardware, NOS, control-plane, and data-plane components are independent.
  • Scaling and operations: what can be added or replaced separately, and how the applicable requirements address resilience, management, and automation.
  • Compliance evidence: which TIP specification applies, whether the product has been evaluated against it, and what testing or validation supports the intended interoperability.

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