This course explains and demonstrates white box switching technology using Pica8's operating system and physical white box switches.

Modules included:

• Overview of the Pica8 architecture
• Configure BGP on Pica8 switches
• Configure OpenFlow without a controller (add flows manually to Open vSwitch)
• Integrate Pica8 switches with multiple controllers: OpenDaylight, Floodlight, and HP VAN

Learn how to configure Pica8 PicOS in both Layer2/Layer3 mode and OpenFlow mode:

PicOS is the Pica8 network operating system software used on white box switches. PicOS eliminates vendor lock-in by delivering open, hardware-agnostic networking. Built on Linux, PicOS incorporates a full Layer-2 and Layer-3 feature set with support for OpenFlow, OVSDB, and other key SDN protocols. PicOS enables customers to deliver differentiated network applications and services on white box switches. PicOS features vASIC®, a hardware abstraction technology that simplifies the process of supporting new hardware platforms and is built on an unmodified Debian Linux kernel, making it easy for users to develop and integrate network applications. You will learn how to configure Open vSwitch on Pica8 switches. Open vSwitch (OVS) is a production quality, multilayer virtual switch licensed under the open-source Apache 2.0 license. It's designed to enable massive network automation through programmatic extension, while still supporting standard management interfaces and protocols (such as NetFlow, sFlow, SPAN, RSPAN, CLI, LACP, and 802.1ag). Available on all Pica8® and supported white box switches, PicOS™ supports OpenFlow 1.4 through OVS 2.3 integration. OVS runs as a process within PicOS™, providing the and OVSDB interfaces for external programmability by controllers or orchestration platforms.

Style and Approach

This course explains and demonstrates the white box switching technology using Pica8's operating system and physical white box switches. You will be given an overview of the Pica8 architecture, and will learn how to configure BGP on Pica8 switches, OpenFlow without a controller (by adding flows manually to Open vSwitch) and more.