A Conversation with Vishal Shukla, CEO of Aviz Networks
Alan Weckel of the 650 Group sat down with Vishal Shukla, Co-founder and CEO of Aviz Networks, to discuss open networking, the maturity of the SONiC ecosystem, and how AI is reshaping network infrastructure and operations.
What Is Aviz Networks and Why Does It Matter in AI Networking?
“We are creating a network software stack, end to end, in two dimensions — Networks for AI and AI for Networks. That means building networks that support AI workloads, and using AI to make networks smarter.”
— Vishal Shukla, CEO, Aviz Networks
Aviz builds a full-stack, vendor-agnostic platform for open networking and AI-powered automation. At the center is ONES (Open Networking Stack), a unified control and observability layer across NOS platforms such as SONiC and NVIDIA Spectrum-X. This lets enterprises scale while keeping operational consistency—from edge AI deployments to data-center compliance.
How Is Aviz Executing on Its Vision for Open Networking?
Over the last two years Aviz has moved from vision to deployment with an AI-ready stack:
- 2023–2024: Standardized SONiC integration for vendor-agnostic networks.
- Late 2024: Added deep visibility and telemetry for real-time observability.
- 2025: Launched Network Copilot, an AI assistant for proactive, data-driven automation.
Aviz is now deploying across 15 verticals including healthcare, telco, e-commerce, and retail—showing that open and AI networking are enterprise-ready.
Why Is SONiC Adoption Accelerating in Retail and Edge?
Designed for hyperscale data centers, SONiC is now reaching store-level and branch environments through the Aviz-led PENCE initiative (POE Edge Networks with SONiC). Edge networks demand:
- High availability with minimal complexity
- Low cost of operation
- Real-time visibility into remote locations
SONiC’s lightweight, scalable architecture—plus Aviz enhancements—fits these needs.
How Has SONiC Evolved for Enterprise-Scale Automation?
SONiC has matured into a production-grade platform along three dimensions:
- Protocols: IP CLOS, EVPN, VXLAN, and edge features now cover ~80% of enterprise use cases.
- Enterprise readiness: Faster patching and a microservices model accelerate security fixes (e.g., rapid OpenSSL CVE response).
- Deployment maturity: Proven across healthcare, telco, and retail—with or without Aviz—validating scalability and flexibility.
This places SONiC at the core of AI networking and next-gen infrastructure.
How Is the SONiC Ecosystem Growing?
The ecosystem is expanding to include:
- Orchestration and automation layers
- Real-time observability and SLA monitoring
- Integration with SecOps and NetOps tools
- 24/7 enterprise support
- Security and compliance frameworks
Aviz is building the controller layer via ONES, tying together telemetry, automation, and AI for turnkey open networking at scale.
What Role Do SONiC and ONES Play in Networks for AI?
As AI workloads scale, two deployment models are emerging:
- NVIDIA Spectrum-X for vertically integrated AI environments
- SONiC-based fabrics for open, customizable deployments
ONES supports both—offering a consistent operating layer across front-end and back-end networks.
“In this world where the infrastructure is changing very fast... you need to standardize your operating layer.”
— Vishal Shukla, CEO, Aviz Networks
By decoupling control from hardware, customers can support 400G, 800G, and 1.6T environments—future-proofing the AI fabric.
How Does AI for Networks Drive Automation?
Aviz Network Copilot applies intelligence to daily NetOps with vendor-agnostic, privacy-preserving AI:
- Compliance checks: Continuous monitoring of configuration, security, and operations.
- Audit report generation: Structured documentation via generative AI.
- Playbook standardization: Team-wide consistency for automation scripts.
- Toolchain integration: Connects with JIRA, ServiceNow, Zabbix, and more.
“It’s like a human network engineer—AI must be vendor-agnostic and understand the full stack.”
— Vishal Shukla, CEO, Aviz Networks
Embedding automation into everyday workflows reduces manual effort and keeps teams focused on strategic work.
What’s an Example of Network Copilot in Action?
At one customer, each engineer wrote their own Ansible playbooks, causing fragmented automation. With Copilot, Aviz enabled:
- Standardized scripting formats
- Role-based customization
- Automated playbook generation with AI-assisted validation
The result: repeatable, secure, and scalable automation.
What’s Next for AI Networking in 2025?
1) Scaling SONiC and Open Networking for AI Workloads
- Broaden ONES + SONiC + Spectrum-X deployments across all 15 verticals
- Expand SONiC features for edge and AI fabrics
2) Defining AI’s Role in Network Automation
- Identify 10–20 repeatable Copilot use cases
- Validate across real-world customer environments
- Refine agent-based orchestration for NetOps and SecOps workflows
End goal: a new standard for how enterprise networks are designed, operated, and automated.
Explore Aviz ONES and Network Copilot
See how Aviz is redefining what’s possible with open networking and AI-powered automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
AI Networking, SONiC Adoption, Open Networking, and Network Automation
1. What is SONiC, and how does it support AI Networking?
SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) is an open-source network OS used to build vendor-agnostic, high-performance infrastructure. It brings flexibility, scalability, and cost savings to AI data centers and edge sites. Paired with Aviz ONES, operators get full-stack control and observability for AI fabrics.
2. How does Aviz Network Copilot power Network Automation?
Network Copilot continuously monitors network health, flags compliance issues, and composes audit reports with generative AI. It’s vendor-agnostic, integrates with JIRA/ServiceNow/Ansible, and runs fully on-prem for data privacy—making it ideal for multi-vendor enterprises.
3. What makes Aviz ONES different from traditional network controllers?
ONES is a vendor-neutral operating layer that connects SONiC, NVIDIA Spectrum-X, and third-party tools. It supports real-time telemetry, SLA enforcement, and multi-domain visibility while preserving the open-source nature of SONiC—serving as a single control point for Networks for AI.
4. How mature is SONiC for enterprise adoption today?
SONiC now covers 80%+ of enterprise use cases with IP CLOS, EVPN, and VXLAN. A microservices architecture speeds security fixes, and active deployments span healthcare, retail, telco, and e-commerce. With Aviz support, observability, and control layers, SONiC is enterprise-ready.
5. How does AI make network operations more efficient?
AI offloads repetitive tasks—config validation, compliance checks, documentation—so engineers troubleshoot faster, enforce standards, and reduce human error. Because Copilot is agentic, it doesn’t just analyze; it also triggers workflows and integrates into automation pipelines tailored to each environment.
