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In today’s fast-moving digital world, maintaining a stable and well-monitored infrastructure is crucial. The latest release of ONES 3.1 introduces key updates, including enhanced support for SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud). These enhancements boost visibility, automate critical processes, and strengthen system health monitoring. The improved SONiC support streamlines issue detection and response, optimizing performance and minimizing downtime. IT teams can now focus on strategic tasks, knowing their infrastructure is continuously and intelligently monitored for peak performance.
Stay ahead of issues and ensure smooth operations with ONES 3.1.
System Health Monitoring
CPU-Intensive Services
Previously, identifying resource-heavy processes was challenging due to the lack of granular insights in system-wide CPU and memory metrics. Often, system-level data shows a spike in CPU usage without providing a quick way to pinpoint the cause. To address this challenge, ONES now provides detailed reports on the top 10 CPU-consuming services running on the host, along with their memory usage. This helps users easily identify high-impact processes like redis-server, agent, syncd, and dockerd. With this level of detail, users can diagnose performance issues more quickly, optimize system resources, and prevent potential bottlenecks, resulting in greater system efficiency.
Top CPU consuming services
Unhealthy Devices with Failure Codes
ONES 3.1 introduces a new feature that highlights unhealthy devices, offering real-time failure detection for hardware (e.g., PSU, fan failures, LED alarms), software services, key processes, and containers. When a failure is detected, the device is marked as unhealthy, with detailed information readily available in the UI. This streamlined view helps operators quickly identify and resolve issues, simplifying troubleshooting. Notifications are also provided in the topology view and health summary page
Unhealthy Device with details of failure
SONiC Docker Transitions
Docker containers are the backbone of the SONiC operating system, and ensuring their stable operation is crucial for switch performance. Previously, tracking container state changes, such as shifts from “up” to “down,” was difficult and time-consuming. Operators often struggled to detect these changes in real-time, leading to delays in addressing service disruptions and unnoticed issues. ONES 3.1 introduces a new widget that visually highlights Docker container state transitions, allowing operators to quickly spot changes and respond to disruptions. Widgets provides a “Connect” button for direct SSH access to the switch, enabling swift action when needed. Additionally, it offers a timeframe selection feature, allowing operators to view container state changes over a specified period.
Docker transitions in the managed network
Automatic IP Detection, Alerting and Rediscovery:
When a monitored device’s management IP changes, it’s crucial for the monitoring software to update the IP promptly to ensure smooth operations. Previously, detecting and updating a device’s management IP was a manual, time-consuming process, often causing communication breakdowns and delayed issue identification. ONES 3.1 introduces an automatic rediscovery mechanism that instantly detects when a device’s management IP changes and re-registers the switch with the controller. This enhancement eliminates manual intervention, ensuring continuous communication, real-time monitoring, and faster issue resolution, even when devices are reconfigured.
Additionally, IP Transition Widget allows operators to track all IP changes the device has undergone over a specific period and if it had conflicted with another IP in the monitored network. To further enhance visibility, an alert generation option using ONES Rule engine notifies operators of any management IP changes, ensuring they are always aware of network modifications and can respond swiftly to maintain seamless operations.
Device IP transitions summary
Rule Engine: Enhanced Alerts
The ONES Rule Engine has emerged as a preferred tool for automating network monitoring, allowing operators to configure custom rules based on their specific threshold levels for various parameters. When a defined condition is met, the system automatically generates an alert, enabling real-time, proactive responses to potential issues. These new metrics provide deeper insights and more precise control over network performance, ensuring smoother operations and quicker issue resolution.
1. Docker CPU/Memory Utilization – Enables container-level monitoring of CPU and memory usage, alerting operators if utilization exceeds set limits.
2. Docker Down Status – Triggers an alert if any Docker container goes down, ensuring immediate awareness of service disruptions.
3. Unhealthy Devices – Identifies and alerts operators of devices that experience failures.
4. IP Transition Monitoring – Tracks IP changes in devices and generates alerts when IP transitions occur.
ONES 3.1 takes SONiC network monitoring and troubleshooting to the next level with powerful enhancements like real-time failure detection, automated IP rediscovery, detailed system health insights, and advanced alerting. Ready to see ONES 3.1 in action? Book a demo today and experience how it can transform your network management with smarter automation and deeper insights.
1. How does ONES 3.1 improve SONiC infrastructure monitoring?
ONES 3.1 enhances SONiC observability by offering real-time visibility into system health, including CPU-intensive services, Docker container transitions, and device-level failures. This allows IT teams to proactively detect, investigate, and resolve issues faster than before.
2. What are the benefits of real-time alerts for Docker container failures in SONiC?
The new Docker Down Status alerts in ONES 3.1 notify operators immediately when SONiC containers fail, ensuring service disruptions are caught and addressed before they escalate—minimizing downtime and improving operational resilience.
3. Can ONES 3.1 detect and respond to SONiC device IP changes automatically?
Yes. ONES 3.1 introduces automatic IP rediscovery that detects management IP changes and re-registers the switch seamlessly, ensuring uninterrupted telemetry and real-time monitoring without manual intervention.
4. How does ONES 3.1 help in identifying the root cause of high CPU usage in SONiC?
ONES 3.1 provides granular visibility into top 10 CPU-consuming services, showing memory usage per process. This helps pinpoint root causes—like syncd, redis, or dockerd—behind performance spikes and allows quick remediation.
5. What types of SONiC infrastructure anomalies can the ONES Rule Engine detect?
The ONES Rule Engine can detect and alert on:
CPU/memory overuse by Docker containers
Docker container downtime
Hardware or service failures in devices
Real-time management IP changes
This enables a proactive, rule-based monitoring strategy tailored to each network’s performance needs.
AI is transforming every industry—including networking. As AI workloads scale, the infrastructure powering them must evolve. Networks must become smarter, faster, and more efficient to support the next wave of AI-driven innovation. At Aviz Networks, we believe in Networks for AI and AI for Networks—and we’re making it happen.
That’s why I’m thrilled to invite you to an exclusive panel at NVIDIA GTC, where we’ll explore NVIDIA’s role in transforming networking across these two dimensions and how Aviz Networks complements this ecosystem with innovative products.
Panel: Network Modernization in the Age of AI
AI-driven workloads demand a new era of networking—one that redefines how we design, deploy, and optimize infrastructure for peak performance. Our discussion will cover:
Networks for AI – Discover cutting-edge architectures designed to deliver high-performance, lossless networking for AI workloads
AI for Networks – See how AI-driven assistants like Network Copilot™ are redefining network operations with automation and real-time insights.
Aviz ONES + NVIDIA Spectrum™-X – Explore the next-gen AI networking solution built for Ethernet-based GPU cloud infrastructures.
Why This Matters
AI is no longer just an application—it’s the backbone of modern enterprise infrastructure. But here’s the challenge: AI workloads are hungry for bandwidth, require extreme precision, and demand real-time optimization. Aviz Networks and NVIDIA are solving this with cutting-edge AI networking innovations.
Don’t just read about AI in networking—experience it. Watch our exclusive demo and join the panel discussion at NVIDIA GTC!
2025 is here, and it’s a year of massive change. The infrastructure world is flipping on its head, and networks are at the core of it
Why? Three unstoppable forces are at play:
1. Compute Redefined: Old definition of compute is out, GPUs and inference engines are in.
2. Bandwidth Explosion: Modern apps are devouring bandwidth. Networks need to be faster—a lot faster.
3. AI Takes Over: AI isn’t optional anymore. It’s becoming the heartbeat of every operation.
AI is forcing a total rethink of infrastructure, and new infrastructure needs new networks. At Aviz Networks, we see this through two lenses:
1. AI for Networks
2. Networks for AI
AI for Networks
AI copilots (or AI Agents) are taking over (or will take over in next couple of years). They’re boosting efficiency, sparking innovation, and driving ROI. And networks? They’re next in line. The clock has already started ticking. Every CIO is asking the same question: how do we deploy AI into our network operations?
Here’s the reality:
AI in networks isn’t plug-and-play. It’s hard. Why? Because just like a human network engineer, AI has to learn. But here’s the twist: the AI has to learn differently for every company. Cookie-cutter solutions just don’t work. That’s why platform AI is a dead end. Networks need private AI.
Here’s what it needs to understand:
Vendor-Specific Systems: Routers, switches, SD-WANs, and servers from different vendors—all with unique quirks.
Tool-Specific Data: Systems like Zendesk and ServiceNow hold treasure troves of data that need to be correlated.
Diverse Personas: From executives to architects to operators to procurement, everyone has different goals but relies on the same network data.
Network-Specific KPIs: Data centers focus on scalability and resilience; edge networks care about speed and efficiency.
This means your AI needs to: Keep your data private and secure.
Connect with us if – You’re building new networks, refreshing existing ones. Exploring AI deployment in your operations. Connect with us at Aviz Networks to discover how we can help you design future-ready, AI-driven networks that deliver unmatched value and ROI.
In today’s rapidly evolving networking landscape, organizations are seeking greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) has emerged as a leading open-source platform for building and managing data center networks.
SONiC empowers network operators to break free from vendor lock-in, reduce operational costs, and accelerate innovation. By providing a vendor-agnostic, open-source framework, SONiC offers unprecedented flexibility and control over network infrastructure.
What Makes Evaluating SONiC So Challenging?
While SONiC offers numerous benefits, evaluating and deploying it can be a daunting task due to several challenges :
1. Multiple Vendors: The diverse vendor landscape for SONiC hardware and software can complicate the evaluation process. Different vendors offer varying levels of support, features, and performance.
2. Multiple SONiC Flavors: The existence of community and vendor-specific SONiC distributions introduces additional complexity. While community SONiC offers flexibility, vendor-specific versions often provide additional features and support.
3. Complexity of Network Configurations: SONiC's flexibility and extensive feature set can lead to complex network configurations. This requires careful planning and testing to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
4. Need of SONiC Expertise: Effective SONiC evaluation and deployment demands specialized knowledge and skills. This can be a significant barrier for organizations without in-house SONiC expertise.
5. Volume of Features: The sheer volume of features and capabilities offered by SONiC can make it overwhelming to evaluate and configure. It requires a deep understanding of networking concepts and SONiC's specific implementation.
How to Accelerate SONiC Evaluations with FTAS
1. Accelerated Testing: FTAS automates a wide range of tests, including Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality, high-availability features, and security protocols. This significantly speeds up the evaluation process.
2. Enhanced Reliability: FTAS rigorously tests SONiC configurations to ensure optimal performance and stability. By identifying and addressing potential issues early on, FTAS helps to minimize risks.
3. Faster Deployment: FTAS accelerates firmware and SONiC image qualification processes by automating testing and validation. This significantly reduces time-to-market for new features and fixes.
4. Continuous Validation: FTAS can be integrated into your CI/CD pipeline to provide continuous validation and ensure the highest quality standards. By automating testing and validation processes, FTAS accelerates development cycles and reduces the risk of introducing defects.
5. Day 2 Feature Testing: FTAS covers a wide range of day 2 features such as software upgrades, configuration changes, and troubleshooting, ensuring smooth operations and minimal downtime.
6. Resilience Testing: FTAS rigorously tests the system's stability in the face of reboots, container crashes, and link events at scale, ensuring business continuity and minimal service disruptions.
7. Scalability Testing: FTAS evaluates the scalability of SONiC deployments by testing the system's ability to handle increasing workloads and traffic volumes.
8. Stress Testing: FTAS subjects the SONiC network to extreme stress conditions to identify performance bottlenecks and potential failure points, ensuring the system's robustness and reliability.
How Does FTAS Keep Your Networks at Par with Quality Standards?
Aviz Networks’ Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS) is a powerful tool designed to ensure the quality and reliability of SONiC networks. By automating testing and validation processes, FTAS helps organizations accelerate deployment, reduce operational costs, and minimize risks.
FTAS helps maintain network quality by:
1. Standardized Testing: Ensuring consistent quality across different vendor hardware and software.
2. Automated Testing: Reducing manual effort and accelerating testing cycles.
3. CI/CD Integration: Integrating with CI/CD pipelines for continuous validation.
5. Detailed Reporting and Analysis: Providing insights for optimization and troubleshooting.
6. Evolving with Industry Needs: Adapting to real-world challenges and customer feedback.
FTAS development is driven by the real-world use cases of Aviz Networks’ customers, ensuring that it meets the needs of modern data center and cloud environments.
Supported Protocols
FTAS supports a wide range of protocols essential for modern data center networks:
1. Layer 2/Layer 3 Protocols:
Ethernet
IP (IPv4/IPv6)
2. Overlay Protocols:
VXLAN
EVPN
3. Control Plane Protocols:
BGP
STP
LACP
MLAG
4. Other Protocols:
QoS
What are the new features in FTAS 3.1?
The latest FTAS 3.1 release brings a host of new features and enhancements to further streamline your SONiC evaluation and deployment process:
1. QoS Testing: Comprehensive testing of Quality of Service (QoS) features to ensure optimal network performance.
2. Stress Testing: Rigorous stress testing to validate the stability and scalability of your SONiC network under heavy load.
3. EVPN/L2VXLAN Enhancements: Expanded coverage of EVPN and L2VXLAN features, ensuring seamless Layer 2 and Layer 3 network virtualization.
4. More SNMP Coverage: Enhanced SNMP monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities for better network visibility and control.
5. Fast Reboot Testing: Rigorous testing of fast reboot mechanisms to minimize downtime during software upgrades and reboots.
6. Platform CLI Coverage: Comprehensive testing of platform-specific CLI commands to ensure compatibility and functionality.
7. More Verifications in Resilience Testcase: Increased verification depth in resilience testing to identify and mitigate potential single points of failure.
How to Use FTAS
By leveraging FTAS, you can accelerate your journey to SONiC, reduce risks, and achieve a more agile and efficient network. Start your SONiC evaluation today with FTAS.
To use FTAS, please contact Schedule a Call with Our Team to Delve into FTAS. For comprehensive information before the scheduled call, visit our FTAS product page.
FAQs
1. What makes SONiC evaluation difficult for enterprises exploring open networking?
SONiC evaluation can be complex due to:
Multi-vendor variability in hardware and features
Multiple SONiC flavors (community vs vendor-specific)
Extensive configuration options and networking feature sets
Need for deep SONiC expertise in-house
Lack of standardized testing tools across deployments
2. How does FTAS simplify SONiC evaluations and reduce time-to-deployment?
Aviz’s Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS) accelerates SONiC adoption by:
Automating Layer 2/3, HA, and QoS testing
Speeding up firmware and SONiC image qualification
Enabling CI/CD-based continuous validation
Supporting day-2 operations, including upgrades and troubleshooting
3. What types of testing can FTAS perform for SONiC-based networks?
FTAS offers full lifecycle validation through:
Resilience testing (reboots, link failures, container crashes)
Stress and scalability testing to evaluate real-world performance
QoS and EVPN/VXLAN validation
Fast reboot and SNMP visibility tests
4. Why is FTAS ideal for multi-vendor SONiC network environments?
FTAS is designed for heterogeneous data centers because it:
Supports standardized testing across vendors
Provides platform-specific CLI coverage
Automates interoperability checks in SONiC ecosystems
Evolves based on real customer deployments and feedback
5. What’s new in FTAS 3.1 for enterprise SONiC validation?
FTAS dramatically speeds up SONiC evaluation by automating key network tests and validations. It reduces manual efforts and delivers rapid results through:
Automated Layer 2/3 functionality tests
High availability (HA) and security protocol validation
A lot of people ask me, “What are the problems that you are solving for customers?” At Aviz, we understand that modern networking demands more than just connectivity; it requires agile, scalable solutions that can adapt to the evolving demands of AI-driven environments. We’re tackling the challenges of complexity, vendor lock-in, and prohibitive costs that many face in traditional network setups. Our AI Networking Stack isn’t just about keeping your network running; it’s about advancing it to think, predict, and operate more efficiently.
At Aviz, we are reshaping networks for the AI era by pioneering both ‘Networks for AI’ and ‘AI for Networks’. Our AI Networking Stack offers unparalleled choice, control, and cost savings, designed to enhance orchestration, observability, and real-time alerts in a vendor-agnostic environment. We’re not just providing solutions; we’re transforming networks with advanced LLM-based learning for critical operations, ensuring powerful, open-source solutions that drive innovation at a fraction of the cost.
We lead the journey to redefine networking with a data-centric approach that seamlessly integrates with any switch and network operating system, delivering performance that rivals the top OEM solutions—all while focusing on the core pillars of choice, control, and cost-effectiveness.
So, if you value having choices, staying in control, and achieving cost savings, read on to discover how our innovative solutions can transform your network management experience.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what sets our technology apart. Here is the detailed overview of our AI Networking Stack:
We’ve meticulously developed each layer of our AI Networking Stack to address the unique challenges our customers face in today’s dynamic network environments. From foundational hardware choices to advanced AI-driven functionalities, let’s dive into the specifics of what makes our technology stand out in the industry.
First, let’s discuss why choosing a vendor-agnostic approach is so crucial. Imagine using Linux. Does it really matter you use it on HPE, DELL, Lenovo Servers, or even at AWS, Azure or GCP. That’s the kind of interoperability we bring to the networking world. Similar to what Linux did for the tech industry, we leverage the open-source SONiC operating system, enhanced by strong partnerships and robust community support. This approach offers an array of choices, enabling hardware selections from our partner ecosystem without any constraints.
At the heart of our innovative lineup is ONES (Open Networking Enterprise Suite), which empowers you with real-time visibility, seamless orchestration, advanced anomaly detection, and AI fabric functionality, including RoCE, across multiple vendors.
This means you have full control over which hardware solutions you implement, supported by our dedicated 24/7 customer service. ONES is designed to give you the freedom to manage your network without vendor lock-in, ensuring flexibility and control in your hands.
Another critical aspect of our strategy to ensure cost efficiency is the Open Packet Broker (OPB).
Built on the powerful, community-driven SONiC platform, the OPB mirrors the capabilities of traditional Network Packet Brokers (NPB) but at a fraction of the cost. This solution delivers all the traditional functionalities you expect but optimizes them to offer significant cost savings without sacrificing performance or scalability.
Sitting atop our stack is the GenAI-based Network Copilot, your AI-powered assistant that simplifies all aspects of network management—from routine upgrades and audit reports to complex troubleshooting tasks. This tool is designed to enhance your operational efficiency, dramatically reducing the time and effort required for network management tasks, thereby freeing up your team to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth.
Our AI Networking Stack is designed to be the backbone of future network management, integrating advanced AI to navigate the complexities of modern networking with sophistication and ease. Opting for a vendor-agnostic approach provides the flexibility to choose the best technologies at the most effective prices, ensuring your network remains robust, scalable, and primed for future technological advancements.
Explore the benefits of a networking solution that brings choices, control, and cost savings without the constraints of traditional vendor lock-ins. This approach is not just about adopting new technology—it’s about advancing with a platform that understands and adapts to the evolving needs of your enterprise.
FAQs
1. What is an AI Networking Stack and why is it important for modern enterprises?
The AI Networking Stack refers to a multi-layered, AI-powered network management architecture that provides real-time orchestration, anomaly detection, and observability across multivendor environments. Aviz AI Stack combines ONES, Open Packet Broker (OPB), and Network Copilot™ to deliver flexibility, vendor-agnostic integration, and cost-efficiency—ideal for businesses modernizing their networks for AI-era workloads.
2. How does Aviz’s vendor-agnostic approach compare to traditional OEM network solutions?
Unlike traditional OEM networks that tie users into proprietary hardware and software, Aviz’s open-source SONiC-based stack supports interoperability across Dell, HPE, Cisco, Arista, and others. This vendor-agnostic approach lets enterprises avoid lock-in, reduce costs, and adapt faster to evolving infrastructure needs.
3. What are the core components of Aviz's AI Networking Stack?
Aviz’s stack includes:
ONES for orchestration, visibility, and AI fabric monitoring
Open Packet Broker (OPB) for cost-efficient traffic visibility
Network Copilot™ for AI-powered network insights and automation
These tools work together to deliver full-stack AI networking without dependency on any specific NOS or hardware.
4. How does Network Copilot™ use AI to improve network management?
Network Copilot™ leverages LLM-based AI to provide intelligent chat-based troubleshooting, performance diagnostics, upgrade checks, and real-time analytics. It streamlines operations and replaces repetitive tasks with intelligent automation—making it ideal for both network engineers and business leaders.
5. Why is SONiC crucial to enabling choice and flexibility in network infrastructure?
SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) enables hardware-agnostic deployment, similar to how Linux enabled OS flexibility. Aviz builds on SONiC to offer full-stack solutions (ONES, OPB, Copilot) that allow organizations to choose hardware freely, while retaining full control over orchestration, observability, and AI integration.
In February, we introduced the ONE Data Lake as part of our ONES 2.1 release, highlighting its integration capabilities with Splunk and AWS. In this blog post, we’ll delve into how the Data Lake integrates specifically with Splunk.
A data lake serves as a centralized storage facility capable of accommodating large quantities of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data on a significant scale.These are typically built using scalable distributed cloud-based storage systems, such as Amazon S3, Azure Data Lake Storage, or Google Cloud Storage.
A pivotal benefit of a data lake lies in its capacity to handle substantial amounts of data from diverse origins, offering a cohesive storage solution conducive to data exploration, analytics, and informed decision-making processes.
Aviz ONE-Data Lake functions as a platform facilitating the migration of on-premises network data to cloud storage. It encompasses metrics that capture operational data across the network’s control plane, data plane, system, platform, and traffic. Serving as an upgraded iteration of Aviz Open Networking Enterprise Suite (ONES), ONE-Data Lake stores the metrics previously utilized in ONES onto the cloud.
Why Splunk?
Splunk is highly significant for organizations across diverse industries for multiple reasons:
1. Operational Insight:
Splunk empowers organizations to obtain immediate insights from their operational data, facilitating the monitoring of system and application health and performance. This capability aids in promptly identifying and addressing issues, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.
2. Security Surveillance and Threat Identification:
Splunk is extensively utilized for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) objectives, aiding organizations in overseeing their IT environments for security threats and irregularities. By correlating data from diverse sources, it can efficiently identify and address security incidents, thereby bolstering the overall cybersecurity stance.
3. Regulatory Adherence and Oversight:
Splunk supports regulatory adherence and oversight by empowering organizations to gather, analyze, and report on data pertinent to regulatory requirements and industry standards. This capability is especially critical for sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, where stringent compliance mandates are in place.
4. IT Operations and DevOps:
Splunk aids in IT operations and DevOps practices by providing visibility into IT infrastructure, application performance, and deployment processes. This allows organizations to identify areas for optimization, streamline operations, and accelerate the development and delivery of software applications
5. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics:
Splunk equips organizations with machine learning and predictive analytics functionalities, empowering them to uncover patterns, detect anomalies, and forecast outcomes from their data. This supports proactive resolution of issues, capacity planning, and efforts in risk management
6. Customer Satisfaction Administration:
Splunk can be utilized to assess customer interactions and feedback from various channels, enabling organizations to delve deeper into customer requirements and preferences. This information can then be utilized to tailor offerings, elevate customer satisfaction levels, and nurture brand loyalty
To sum up, Splunk is an essential tool for organizations to leverage data efficiently, promoting operational excellence, strengthening security measures, ensuring compliance, and achieving business objectives.
Integrating Splunk with ONES:
Steps involved to integrate the Splunk cloud service with ONES,
1. Mapping Splunk instance with the ONES server
To integrate the Splunk service with ONES, follow these steps:
Configure Splunk Instances: Set up the Splunk instances on the ONES cloud page to start pushing metrics to the designated cloud endpoint.
Provide Necessary Details: The following information is required for the integration:
Splunk URL: The URL of your Splunk instance.
Unique Token: A unique token for authentication and secure data transmission.
Index: The specific index in Splunk where the pushed metrics will be stored.
By ensuring these details are accurately provided, you can successfully configure and integrate the Splunk service with ONES, enabling seamless metric collection and analysis.
Figure 1: Cloud Instance configuration page in ONES
Figure 2: Instance created and ready for data streaming
2. Managing the created Instance through ONES:
The cloud instance created within ONES offers several management options to enhance user experience and sustainability. Users can update the integration settings, pause and resume metric uploads to the cloud, and delete the created integration when needed. These features make it easy for users to maintain and manage their cloud endpoint integrations effectively.
Figure 3 : Updating the integration details
Figure 4: Option to pause and resume the metric streaming to cloud
Figure 5: Option to delete the integration created
3. User defined metric update:
The end user has the flexibility to select which metrics from their network monitored by ONES should be uploaded to the designated cloud service. This ONES 2.1 release supports various metrics, including Traffic Statistics, ASIC Capacity, Device Health, and Inventory. Administrators can choose and deselect metrics from the available list within these categories according to their preferences.
Figure 6 : Multiple options available for metric update on cloud
4. Multi vendor support
The metric update is not limited to any particular hardware or network operating system (NOS). ONE-Data Lake’s data collection capability extends across various network operating systems, including Cisco NX-OS, Arista AOS, SONiC, and Non-SONiC. Data streaming occurs via the gnmi process on SONiC-supported devices and through SNMP on OS from other vendors.
Events within Splunk generally contain timestamped data alongside related metadata and content. Each event undergoes parsing and indexing separately, facilitating users to efficiently search, analyze, and visualize data. Splunk automatically extracts fields from events during indexing, streamlining filtering and correlation based on specific criteria.
Figure 8 - Inventory details from NX-OS is captured as events in Splunk
2. Chart representation:
This entails visually depicting data using charts or graphs, aiding users in comprehending patterns, trends, and relationships within the data more readily than analyzing raw data alone. These graphical representations encompass diverse types such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, scatter plots, and others, each tailored to specific data types and analytical objectives
Figure 9 - Pie Chart in Splunk representing the data from different NOS vendors
Conclusion:
Aviz ONE-Data Lake functions as the cloud-based version of ONES, enabling the storage of network data in cloud repositories. It operates independently of any particular cloud platform and supports data streaming from leading network device manufacturers such as Dell, Mellanox, Arista, and Cisco. Network administrators have the freedom to specify the metrics they want to transfer to the cloud endpoint, granting customized control over the data storage procedure.
Schedule your demo today because with ONE Data Lake integrated with Splunk, you’re not just managing data — you’re revolutionizing network analytics for unparalleled insights and efficiency.
FAQs
1. What is Aviz ONE Data Lake and how does it enhance network data analytics?
Aviz ONE Data Lake is a cloud platform that collects and stores telemetry from multi-vendor networks.It centralizes operational, traffic, and device health data — giving teams a single source for deep analytics, proactive decisions, and smarter network management.
2. How does integrating ONE Data Lake with Splunk benefit network teams?
Connecting ONE Data Lake with Splunk gives teams:
Real-time analytics
Powerful dashboards
Anomaly detection It helps detect issues faster, optimize resources, strengthen security, and improve operational visibility across all network layers.
3. What types of metrics can be streamed from ONE Data Lake to Splunk?
You can stream:
Traffic statistics
ASIC utilization
Device health
Network inventory from SONiC and non-SONiC devices like Cisco, Arista, Dell — using gNMI and SNMP protocols.
4. Is the ONE Data Lake and Splunk integration limited to specific vendors or NOS?
No! ONE Data Lake is vendor-neutral. It supports multi-vendor environments — including SONiC, Cisco NX-OS, Arista EOS, and more — so you get unified observability across your entire network.
5. How can users manage cloud integrations within ONES after setting up Splunk?
Through ONES, users can:
Update integration settings
Pause or resume uploads
Select which metrics to send
Delete integrations when needed It’s simple, flexible, and designed for dynamic network environments.
Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS) – a solid set of test cases designed with precision to assess SONiC’s readiness for deployment is ever evolving. Our ongoing dedication to getting better has shaped FTAS, growing with valuable customer input and incorporating new features in sync with the latest SONiC releases.
Exciting news on our journey – FTAS 2.3 is now live! This version comes with a bunch of improvements, all geared towards making SONiC assessment even better and smoothing out pre-deployment testing. Let’s dive into what’s new and how it can elevate your testing experience!
Let’s delve into the key enhancements introduced in FTAS 2.3
Data Center Interconnect
Data Center Interconnect (DCI) harmonizes a sophisticated integration of advanced technologies. EVPN (Ethernet VPN), VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN), and MCLAG (Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group) collectively contribute to the intricate network orchestration. EVPN dynamically manages control plane operations, VXLAN extends virtual networks seamlessly, and MCLAG ensures redundancy and load balancing. This technical synergy within DCI forms a robust infrastructure, addressing the challenges of interconnected data centers. Each technology plays a pivotal role in achieving fluidity and resilience in the overall network composition.
Based upon the customer deployments, the FTAS latest release is packed with new test cases to enhance the existing coverage.
BGP-EVPN with VXLAN
VXLAN EVPN facilitates seamless communication in data centers by extending Layer 2 connectivity over a Layer 3 network. This technology ensures efficient management of virtualized workloads, enabling dynamic learning and distribution of MAC and IP addresses. With its scalable and flexible approach, VXLAN EVPN is instrumental in modern data center deployments, providing a reliable solution for network virtualization and resource optimization.
EVPN/VXLAN Topology
Here are the VXLAN EVPN scenarios covered in FTAS 2.3
Feature
Test Scenario
BGP-EVPN-VXLAN
EVPN VXLAN Configuration and verification
EVPN VXLAN for known unicast, BUM traffic (eBGP) with RIF
EVPN VXLAN for known unicast, BUM traffic (eBGP) with SVI
EVPN VXLAN for known unicast traffic (eBGP) with link events and router failure - RIF
EVPN VXLAN for known unicast traffic (eBGP) with link events and router failure - SVI
EVPN VXLAN for known unicast traffic (eBGP) with link events and router failure - RPCH
Symmetric IRB with EVPN eBGP-RIF (eBGP)
Symmetric IRB with EVPN iBGP-RIF (iBGP)
Symmetric IRB with EVPN iBGP-SVI
Symmetric IRB with EVPN eBGP-RPCH
Symmetric IRB with EVPN iBGP-RPCH
Asymmetric IRB with EVPN eBGP
Asymmetric IRB with EVPN iBGP
MCLAG
MCLAG (Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation) enhances data center reliability by creating a resilient, redundant network. In the event of a switch failure, MCLAG seamlessly transfers traffic to a backup switch, preventing downtime. This technology ensures high availability, load balancing, and simplified network design, making it indispensable for critical applications where continuous connectivity is paramount.
L2 MCLAG
L3 MCLAG
FTAS 2.3 covers following MCLAG use cases based upon the customer deployments.
Deployment
Test Scenario
L2 MCLAG
MCLAG-L2 Steadystate with portchannel and vlan on peer link
MCLAG-L2 Member Link Down
MCLAG-L2 Peer Link Down
MCLAG-L2 Active Reboot
MCLAG-L2 Standby Reboot
L3 MCLAG
MC-LAG L3 validation using portchannel configuration
MC-LAG L3 validation, Bring down the member link of Spine1
MC-LAG L3 keepalive link down
MCLAG-L3 Active Reboot
MCLAG-L3 Standby Reboot
ECMP Scaling & Resilience
ECMP (Equal-Cost Multipath) optimizes network performance by distributing traffic across multiple paths of equal cost. In data center scenarios, ECMP enhances load balancing, increases bandwidth utilization, and ensures fault tolerance. This technology is particularly valuable in modern, dynamic environments where efficient resource utilization and high availability are crucial for delivering reliable and responsive services.
The support for ECMP scalability was added in FTAS 2.2. Based upon further customer use cases, FTAS 2.3 adds the support for eBGP to ECMP scalability.
Here is the list of ECMP eBGP scalability scenarios added in FTAS 2.3
Test Scenario
Description
ECMP Scalability - eBGP support
Scalability to 16 ECMP paths and 32K eBGP routes
Scalability to 32 ECMP paths and 64K eBGP routes
Scalability to 64 ECMP paths and 128K eBGP routes
Scalability to < number of leaf1 ports > ECMP paths and 1K eBGP routes per path
Summary
FTAS 2.3 is here, packed with enhancements for seamless SONiC assessment. The latest release introduces new VXLAN EVPN scenarios, covering various test cases for efficient data center communication. Additionally, MCLAG use cases ensure resilient, redundant networks for critical applications, preventing downtime during switch failures.
FTAS 2.3 also extends support for ECMP scalability with eBGP, enhancing network performance and fault tolerance. Explore the specifics of these upgrades, from VXLAN EVPN configurations to MCLAG and ECMP eBGP scalability scenarios. Elevate your testing experience with FTAS 2.3’s comprehensive coverage and improved capabilities.
Schedule a Call with Our Team to Delve into FTAS. For comprehensive information before the scheduled call, visit our FTAS product page.
FAQs
1. What is the role of FTAS 2.3 in validating SONiC-based Data Center Interconnect (DCI) architectures?
FTAS 2.3 offers a comprehensive set of test cases covering EVPN, VXLAN, MCLAG, and ECMP scenarios, ensuring that SONiC deployments are fully validated for data center interconnect use cases. It helps assess network scalability, redundancy, and resilience in real-world conditions before production rollout.
2. How does FTAS 2.3 improve EVPN and VXLAN testing for SONiC environments?
FTAS 2.3 introduces extensive test cases for VXLAN EVPN scenarios, enabling thorough validation of Layer 2 over Layer 3 connectivity, MAC/IP address learning, link failure recovery, and router failure handling — essential for modern, virtualized data center fabrics.
3. What MCLAG scenarios are covered under FTAS 2.3 for SONiC testing?
FTAS 2.3 covers L2 MCLAG and L3 MCLAG test cases, including steady-state validation, member and peer link failures, active/standby reboots, and keepalive link monitoring, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance in multi-chassis link aggregation setups.
4. How does FTAS 2.3 enhance ECMP scalability testing for SONiC deployments?
FTAS 2.3 expands ECMP testing by adding eBGP-based scalability scenarios, validating support for up to 128K routes and up to 64 ECMP paths, ensuring that SONiC can efficiently handle dynamic, high-bandwidth, load-balanced data center traffic environments.
5. Why is FTAS 2.3 critical for enterprises planning SONiC-based data center upgrades?
FTAS 2.3 provides enterprises with a robust, customer-driven testing framework to validate SONiC readiness, optimize network resilience, guarantee scalability, and minimize deployment risks accelerating time-to-production and boosting overall confidence in SONiC adoption
Enhanced Testing of SONiC NOS with BGP NetOps, Dual Stack and ECMP coverage
What is FTAS (Fabric Test Automation Suite)?
Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS) is a virtual machine containing an extensive array of test cases. FTAS aims to validate essential features and functions of SONiC NOS for Fabric Deployment Readiness. The test cases focus on qualifying the fabric across functions, features, scale, day-2 operations, and chaos scenarios.
Fig.1. FTAS Architecture
FTAS evolves continuously, incorporating customer feedback and integrating new features from the latest SONiC releases. In a significant stride forward, we’re thrilled to announce the unveiling of FTAS 2.2 in our ongoing journey.
Exploring FTAS 2.2 Enhancements: A Brief Overview
Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS) is a robust collection of test cases meticulously crafted to evaluate SONiC’s preparedness before deployment. Our continuous commitment to improvement has led to FTAS evolving based on customer insights and the integration of new features into the latest SONiC releases.
In our progressive journey, we are thrilled to announce the launch of FTAS 2.2. This version brings forth a range of enhancements aimed at further optimizing SONiC assessment and streamlining pre-deployment testing.
Let’s delve into the key enhancements introduced in FTAS 2.2:
Improved Test Cases: FTAS 2.2 boasts refined test cases tailored to comprehensively evaluate SONiC’s functionalities, ensuring a more robust assessment process.
Enhanced Performance Metrics: We’ve implemented enhanced performance metrics in FTAS 2.2 to provide more detailed insights into SONiC’s performance, facilitating better decision-making during deployment.
Expanded Compatibility Testing: FTAS 2.2 extends its compatibility testing suite to encompass a wider range of network configurations, ensuring SONiC’s readiness across diverse environments.
User-Centric Interface Updates: With a focus on user experience, FTAS 2.2 introduces interface updates, making it more intuitive and user-friendly for seamless test execution and analysis.
Improved Root Cause Analysis: Streamlined troubleshooting for identifying and resolving rare network issues faster.
What are the new features and improvements that FTAS offers?
Use Cases Covered
Based upon the customer deployments, the FTAS latest release is packed with new test cases to enhance the existing coverage.
Layer 3
BGP NetOps
BGP is often used for node and link drain during NetOps operations, as it provides a mechanism for the controlled removal of routes from a network. When a node or link is being drained, BGP can be used to gradually decrease the amount of traffic flowing through that node or link, while ensuring that the remaining traffic is still able to reach its destination. This is accomplished by updating BGP routing tables to reflect the new topology of the network.
The latest addition to FTAS is coverage of Day-2 NetOps operations like link drain and node drain using route maps. This coverage has been added based upon the existing customer use cases and will be expanded with future releases.
Test Scenario
Description
BGP Netops
eBGP multi-AS config, adjacency, route convergence and data path using routed interface
eBGP multi-AS route convergence and data path testing using loopback
Node drain/restore by applying deny/permit route-maps
Link drain/restore by applying deny/permit route-maps
Node drain with IPv6 traffic
Link drain with IPv6 traffic
Node drain using prefix-lists
Link drain using prefix-lists
Node drain/restore using AS path prepend
Link drain using AS path prepend
Fig.2.Sample topology used for BGP NetOps use cases
The test cases perform various operations on this topology like node drain & restore using route maps, prefix lists and AS path prepend.
Similarly we have link drain/restore operations using route maps, prefix lists and AS path prepend.
Dual Stack & BGP Graceful Restart
FTAS 2.2 also adds dual stack scalability and BGP Graceful Restart coverage. The dual stack coverage involves testing prefix,host and LPM routes to different scale limits. The BGP Graceful Restart involves testing the BGP graceful restart functionality under various failure conditions.
Test Scenario
Description
Dual Stack
BGP dual stack scale for 4K prefix routes
BGP dual stack scale for 16K prefix routes
BGP dual stack scale for 32K prefix routes
BGP dual stack scale for 64K prefix routes
BGP dual stack scale for 128K prefix routes
BGP dual stack scale for 32K host routes
BGP dual stack scale for 32K LPM routes
BGP dual stack scale for 32K prefix routes with subnet mask
Graceful Restart
BGP graceful restart with dual stack scale to 32K prefix routes
Enable/disable BGP graceful restart with dual stack scale to 32K prefix routes
BGP graceful restart with dual stack scale to 32K prefix routes and docker restart
BGP graceful restart with dual stack scale to 32K prefix routes and kill BGP process
ECMP Scalability
In the latest FTAS release, we have also added validating the device functionality with various ECMP path and route scalability combinations. Here are various scenarios covered in FTAS 2.2:
Test Scenario
Description
ECMP Scale
16 ECMP paths and 32K routes
32 ECMP paths and 64K routes
64 ECMP paths and 128K routes
Scalability to the “device ports” ECMP paths and 1K routes per path
Besides the feature and scalability enhancements, the latest release has also added the coverage of Dynamic Port Breakout feature. Dynamic Port Breakout in SONiC enables the administrator to change the breakout mode of the port without having to change the HWSKU/Profile of the device which requires device reboot. This FTAS release has basic coverage of Dynamic Port Breakout testing. This coverage is going to increase in future releases.
In previous FTAS releases, SONiC resilience was tested with port-channel configurations on DUT links. Thanks to valuable customer feedback, these tests can now be conducted without the need for port-channel configurations as well
Enhanced Failure Analysis
We pay close attention to the inputs from FTAS users. These users feed us data about how easy or difficult it is to operate FTAS UI and the changes they would like to see to make their experience better. FTAS 2.2 introduces significant enhancements aimed at elevating the user’s debugging experience to new levels of efficiency and effectiveness.
Recognizing the significance of tech support data in pinpointing elusive failures, our latest release introduces a mechanism to automatically collect tech support dumps for all devices whenever a test case encounters a failure. Access the tech support dump within the test report folder for the corresponding run.
Similar to tech support, collection of syslogs also helps in the root-cause analysis of the failures. Our latest release collects the syslogs for all DUTs for each test case. Like tech support dumps, the syslogs are also saved in the test report folder.
Likewise FTAS 2.2 has another useful enhancement to display DOM information to debug port issues. This data is captured in the test log whenever we encounter port issues e.g. if the port fails to activate in a test case. In some corner cases, these port issues may not be easily reproducible. Hence it is important to capture as much data as possible as and when the failure occurs during the run. The DOM data along with Syslog and Tech Support dump comes handy in narrowing down the underlying cause. This helps us release the SONiC image without corner case issues.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About FTAs 2.2
How does FTAS 2.2 differ from the previous versions?
Coverage of BGP Netops
Increased dual stack scalability coverage
Increased ECMP scalability coverage
Auto collection of information to assist in debugging – techsupport bundle, syslog, DOM output
How does it help you achieve your goals and meet your expectations?
Support for testing Day-2 NetOps functionality
Support for testing Dual Stack & Graceful Restart scalability
Support for testing ECMP scalability
Easier and faster root cause analysis of the corner cases
Conclusion:
At Aviz, we’re dedicated to continually improving FTAS to empower your SONiC deployment process. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey to enhance SONiC assessment and deployment readiness.
We actively gather inputs and feedback from our customers regarding the extended coverage, incorporating this information into our approach to enhance product usability and debug capabilities
Schedule a call with our team to delve into FTAS. For comprehensive information before the scheduled call, visit our FTAS product page.
The Importance of Quality Standardization in Community SONiC Based Networks
While traditional network deployments rely on proprietary solutions from switch vendors for quality assurance, the shift towards community SONiC presents a challenge: maintaining high-quality standards without turning SONiC into a proprietary system. The solution? FTAS (Fabric Test Automation Suite).
FTAS empowers customers to manage the diversity of community SONiC with a simple, one-click quality check. It enables data centers to transition to Community SONiC confidently, ensuring that any vendor’s switch aligns perfectly with their specific requirements through standardized and automated FATS test cases.
The evolution of FTAS from its initial focus on a few vendors and use cases to the more comprehensive FTAS 2.0 highlights our commitment to expanding support and adapting to a wider range of customer needs. This advancement underscores our dedication to fostering standardized quality assurance in the Community SONiC ecosystem.
FTAS (Fabric Test Automation Suite) Overview
Overview of Aviz Networks’ Fabric Test Automation Suite (FTAS)
The Fabric Test Automation Suite by Aviz Networks is a groundbreaking testing solution, combining the consistency of SONiC’s CLI with advanced testing methodologies. It represents a significant advancement in switch testing, catering to the complex demands of modern network fabrics with a commitment to quality and performance. Following are a few innovations we have done with FTAS.
Comprehensive Testing: Using SONiC CLI: FTAS leverages the uniformity of SONiC’s Command Line Interface across various vendors, enabling extensive and thorough testing of switch functionalities. This ensures a robust validation of core switch operations within complex network infrastructures.
Integration with Jenkins for CI/CD Testing: The suite is compatible with Jenkins, facilitating a ready-to-use Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline tailored for Network Development Operations (NetDevOps). It supports testing on both physical switches and GNS3-based virtual appliances, enhancing its versatility as a true virtual system.
In-depth Fabric Analysis: FTAS is specifically designed for detailed analysis of switch behavior within network fabrics. It uses SONiC’s consistent CLI to explore and understand intricate fabric interactions, highlighting the suite’s capability for detailed network scrutiny.
Tailored for Modern Network Needs: The suite is developed with a focus on the evolving requirements of contemporary networks. It offers a flexible and adaptable toolset, poised to address the dynamic nature of modern network technology landscapes.
Focus on Performance, Reliability, and Scalability: Aviz Networks has a clear mission with FTAS – to enhance network performance, reliability, and scalability through rigorous and comprehensive testing. This focus ensures networks are not just meeting but exceeding performance expectations.
Commitment to On-going Excellence: FTAS embodies Aviz Networks’ dedication to providing high-quality testing solutions. It ensures optimal network performance and resilience, showcasing the company’s commitment to excellence in network testing.
Optimizing Test Cases and Quality Quest Across the Entire SONiC Ecosystem with Major Vendors
Aviz Networks has always taken an inclusive and comprehensive approach working with all of our partners. Community comes with diversity and with that it comes with a lot of heavy lifting which is required to do normalization for complex test cases. Below is the high level process we used to achieve a standardized test suite which can now work on all the vendors registered in ONE center, and hence available for customers to to POC or setup a CI/CD lab of their own and start on NetDevOps journey.
Selective Test Case Automation: The team at Aviz Networks embarked on an automation journey, carefully selecting key test cases for automation. This selection process was thorough, ensuring that the chosen test cases were crucial for the automation objectives – typically selected by high value customer use cases.
Rigorous Cross-Platform Testing: The automated test cases were subjected to intensive testing across various platforms available in the Aviz lab. This included a range of platforms from industry leaders such as Cisco, NVIDIA, Edgecore, Wistron, and others, ensuring a comprehensive testing process.
Platform Independent (PI) Test Suite: A significant number of these test cases were identified as platform-independent. They demonstrated consistent behavior across all tested platforms. These were grouped into the Platform Independent suite, making them versatile for execution on any platform within the ecosystem.
Identification of Platform Dependent (PD) Test Cases: Some test cases showed variations in behavior across different platforms. This was due to differences in the outputs of show commands or the support of different feature sets by various switches. These test cases were categorized as Platform Dependent, acknowledging their specific applicability to certain platforms.
In summary, the optimization of test cases across the SONiC ecosystem at Aviz Networks involved a strategic selection and categorization of test cases, ensuring effective automation across a wide range of platforms. This process led to the creation of both Platform Independent and Platform Dependent test suites, accommodating the diverse nature of the testing environment and the specific characteristics of different platforms.
Customer Guide to Accessing and Using FTAS
FTAS serves a dual role, catering to both switch vendors and end customers with its versatile applications. It’s a dynamic tool, continuously evolving to incorporate the latest in SONiC community developments.
For Switch Vendors
R&D and Product Development: Utilized in the research and development phase, FTAS aids in crafting high-quality SONiC solutions.
For End Customers
Proof of Concept (POC) Testing: As a subscription service, it enables end customers to conduct POCs. This facilitates testing of multi-vendor SONiC solutions, helping in informed decision-making regarding vendor selection.
CI/CD Lab Management: FTAS is also instrumental in managing Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) labs, streamlining NetDevOps processes for efficient SONiC deployment.
Continuous Enhancement
FTAS is not static; it’s a ‘living entity’ that regularly integrates new use cases, platforms, and updates from the SONiC community. This ensures users always have access to the most advanced and comprehensive tools available.
If you are looking for a comprehensive and easy-to-use testing solution for your SONiC network, then FTAS is the perfect option for you. For more detailed information about the supported suites and their configurations, visit: FTAS Test Suite Configuration
FTAS Reporting Mechanism: Delivering Comprehensive Test Insights
Overview of the FTAS Test Results – Execution Report
The Next Level of Testing: Introducing FTAS 2.0 and its Exciting Features
Working with customers and partners, we focused on below three items in FTAS release 2.0:
Making it more robust for the existing use cases and adding new test cases as per new customers
Adding more platforms for higher speeds and feeds and also new ASICs/Platforms
Making the test cases more flexible so custom test cases can be executed
FTAS is an invaluable asset for corporations exploring SONiC or switch vendors seeking enhanced support. It revolutionizes testing by offering comprehensive coverage with reduced effort and expense. By eliminating the need for extensive teams, complex test planning, and manual execution, FTAS streamlines the testing process. It ensures accurate, efficient outcomes at a fraction of the traditional cost and effort.
Ready to explore? Book a demo with us on FTAS, and how it works?
1. What is FTAS 2.0 and how does it improve SONiC deployments?
FTAS 2.0 is an enhanced version of the Fabric Test Automation Suite, designed to ensure consistent, high-quality performance across multi-vendor SONiC environments. It automates and standardizes test cases, providing detailed insights into switch behavior and fabric interactions. FTAS 2.0 improves upon the original by supporting more platforms, adding new test cases, and allowing greater flexibility for custom testing.
2. How does FTAS help in managing multi-vendor SONiC deployments?
FTAS simplifies the testing and quality assurance process for multi-vendor SONiC deployments by providing a one-click quality check for any vendor’s switch. It ensures that switches meet specific requirements through standardized, automated FATS test cases, making it easier for data centers to transition to SONiC confidently.
3. What are the benefits of integrating FTAS with CI/CD pipelines?
Integrating FTAS with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines streamlines testing within the NetDevOps process. This integration ensures continuous testing of SONiC deployments, enabling automated validation and faster identification of issues. FTAS is compatible with Jenkins, facilitating automated testing across both physical switches and virtual appliances.
4. How does FTAS help vendors and customers during the R&D phase?
For switch vendors, FTAS supports research and development by validating SONiC solutions before deployment. It ensures the solutions meet the quality standards required for successful multi-vendor SONiC deployments. For end customers, FTAS enables Proof of Concept (POC) testing, which aids in informed decision-making when selecting vendors and evaluating SONiC solutions.
5. What is the role of FTAS in NetDevOps?
FTAS plays a crucial role in NetDevOps by automating the testing and validation of SONiC deployments. It integrates seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, allowing customers to conduct continuous testing, track quality metrics, and enhance their network operations with minimal manual intervention. This ensures that network deployments are efficient, reliable, and scalable.
Ethernet cables connected to network switch, close up
Optical communication networks are, literally, the backbones of the information superhighway. They have been providing the conduits over which broadband data is delivered worldwide, at the actual speed of light. Hundreds of millions of miles of deployed optical fiber interconnect continents, nations, cities, neighborhoods, and private homes. Behind this backbone comes a suite of complementary optical subsystem components that are pivotal to the operation and management of these networks. These optical microsystems directly interact with the optical signal and – through functionality afforded by design – are able to filter, switch, attenuate, and adapt the optical communication channels carried by the network.
One of the major optical microsystem applications is the optical transceiver. In simple words, an optical transceiver is a device that converts data to light and vice versa to be transmitted and received across optical fibers. Imagine these devices to be traffic merge points in an interstate highway system that takes in off-highway city traffic and links them into super-speed highway traffic. Just as the proper functioning of traffic merges is necessary for the seamless functioning of a highway system, continuous observability of thousands of these devices at scale becomes a must-have for network administrators.
In this blog, we will demystify optical transceiver-based link optics from an engineering perspective. Besides that, we will also highlight the ways Aviz ONES is leveraged by network teams to continuously observe, investigate and triage in real-time, thereby alleviating their time, cost, and resource burdens.
Optical Transceiver – Engineer’s Definition
An Optical transceiver is used to convert electrical signals to optical light signals and optical signals to electrical signals. It is a hot-swappable device that can be plugged into a networking device that can send and receive data. Optical transceivers come in different forms and dimensions called Form Factors which support different speeds and distances. Data center networks can be copper-based connections, fiber-based connections, or a combination of copper and fiber cables called hybrid connections, and transceivers can receive and transmit data in both copper and fiber optic cables.
Why Fiber over Copper
Fiber
Copper
Made up of glass fiber
Made up of copper wire
Carries data in the form of light
Carries data in the form of electric signals
Offers higher bandwidth
Offers lower bandwidth
Transmission speed is faster
Transmission speed is slower
Low latency
High latency
Installation cost is high
Installation cost is less
Attenuation is very low
Attenuation is high
Fiber is thin and light, easily breakable
Copper is heavier and thick, difficult to break
More resistant to corrosive materials
Prone to corrosive materials
More reliable, and durable
Less reliable, and durable
Large life span
Small life span
Not affected by electrical/magnetic interface
Affected by electrical/magnetic interface
More secure – no leakage of light and are difficult to tap
Less secure – leakage of signals and easy to tap
No Crosstalk problem problem
Prevalent to Crosstalk problem
High noise immunity
Low noise immunity
Charge carriers are photons, which do not carry any charge, so they do not get affected
Charge carriers are electrons, which carry a negative charge, so they get affected when they move in a wire
Standard Form Factors
The form factor states the physical dimensions of a transceiver which varies in size and shape depending on the speeds and protocols supported. Optical transceiver manufacturers design optics according to the Multisource Agreement (MSA). This is a standard for ensuring that the same form-factor transceivers from different vendors are compatible in size and function for interoperability with different vendor optics.
Type
Speed
SFP
1G
SFP+
10G
SFP28
25G
SFP56
50G
QSFP+
40G
QSFP28
100G
QSFP56
200G
QSFP-DD
400G
OSFP/QSFP-DD
800G
SFP – Small Form-factor Pluggable
QSFP – Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable
QSFP-DD – Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density
OSFP – Octal Small Form-factor Pluggable
Transceiver Standards are based on the speed of the optics. Let’s take 100G transceivers that have different form factors CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CXP, and QSFP28. QSFP28 is the newest version of the 100G Optical transceiver. QSFP28 is a widely used 100G transceiver because of its high performance, lower power consumption, and higher density.
A high-speed port is broken into multiple low-speed ports are called Breakout Ports or Breakout cables. For example, a switch with a 400G port can be connected to 4x100G ports using breakout cables. Breakout cables are also called “fanout” cables.
Rate
Technology
Breakout Capable
Electric Lanes
Optical Lanes
10G
SFP+
No
10G
10G
25G
SFP28
No
25G
25G
40G
QSFP+
Yes
4x 10G
4x10G, 2x20G
50G
SFP56
No
50G
50G
100G
QSFP28
Yes
4x 25G
100G, 4x25G, 2x50G
200G
QSFP56
Yes
4x 50G
4x50G
2x100G
QSFP28-DD
Yes
2x (4x25G)
2x (4x25G)
400G
QSFP56-DD
Yes
8x 50G
4x 100G, 8x50G
Aviz ONES & The Optical Transceiver
Open Networking Enterprise Suite (ONES) is a network management and support application that offers the industry’s only multi-vendor, a multi-NOS solution that delivers Orchestration, Visibility, and Assurance – enabling SONiC adoption in new or existing deployments. ONES consumes telemetry from switches running SONIC, and other NOSs such as NVIDIA Cumulus Linux, Arista EOS, or Cisco NX-OS, and delivers deep insights into the link optics with information on
Inventory metrics for speed, type, breakout, lanes, manufacturer, etc.
Health metrics based on Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) telemetry, an industry standard to access operating parameters of transceivers such as Tx Power, Rx Power, Temperature, Supply Voltage, Laser Bias Current, and much more.
This information is collected across any platform and the data is normalized to provide a unified view of the network fabric. ONES provides critical information on faulty transceivers in the fabric with drilled-down capabilities to identify the root cause of failures. An example of how deep ONES can go in terms of providing visibility for optics inventory and operational health is below.
Conclusion
Link availability is critical for any network operations, as the failure of a network link is the primary source of customer-impacting issues in the majority of cases. Hence, optics telemetry monitoring is a must-have in data center monitoring solutions to (a) understand link issues due to transient or permanent failures and (b) proactively identify the optics that are likely to fail and fix them ahead of time. Aviz ONES provides deep insights into optics to achieve the above goals. The optics data collected by ONES can also be extremely useful in qualifying optics before purchase decisions are made. Contact us to learn more about how Aviz can help with Optics Monitoring for your SONiC network.
FAQs
1-What is an optical transceiver and how does it work in a network?
An optical transceiver is a device that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa, enabling data transmission over fiber optic cables. These hot-swappable modules are plugged into switches or routers and are essential for enabling high-speed connectivity in data centers and carrier networks. They support various form factors (e.g., SFP, QSFP) and data rates ranging from 1G to 800G.
2-Why is fiber optic communication preferred over copper in modern networks?
Fiber optics are preferred over copper due to their higher bandwidth, faster transmission speeds, lower latency, better noise immunity, and greater security. Unlike copper, fiber transmits data as light, making it more efficient over long distances with minimal signal loss or electromagnetic interference, which is especially critical in high-performance environments like hyperscale data centers.
3-How does Aviz ONES provide visibility into optical transceivers in SONiC-based networks?
Aviz ONES offers deep optics observability by collecting real-time telemetry from SONiC and other NOS platforms. It tracks inventory (type, speed, lanes) and health metrics (Tx/Rx power, temperature, voltage, bias current) using Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM). ONES normalizes this data across vendors and platforms, enabling teams to identify failing optics, triage faults, and make informed purchase decisions all from a unified dashboard.
4-What is optics fanout or breakout and how does it work?
Optics fanout, also known as breakout, allows a high-speed port (like 400G) to be split into multiple lower-speed connections (like 4x100G). This is done using breakout cables, optimizing port utilization and enabling flexible topologies in spine-leaf architectures. Fanout support varies by transceiver form factor and is crucial in scalable network designs.
5-Why is optical telemetry crucial for maintaining network uptime and performance?
Optical telemetry provides critical insights into the real-time health of transceivers by monitoring metrics like transmit/receive power, temperature, voltage, and laser bias current. Proactive monitoring helps identify transient faults or failing optics before they cause link degradation or downtime. Tools like Aviz ONES empower network teams to troubleshoot faster, reduce MTTR (Mean Time to Repair), and ensure high service availability across multi-vendor, SONiC-based environments.
Everything You Need to Know About Network Link Optics
Optical communication networks are, literally, the backbones of the information superhighway. They have been providing the conduits over which broadband data is delivered worldwide, at the actual speed of light. Hundreds of millions of miles of deployed optical fiber interconnect continents, nations, cities, neighborhoods, and private homes. Behind this backbone comes a suite of complementary optical subsystem […]
