Aviz Packet Broker outlines SONiC-based disaggregated packet brokering

Aviz Packet Broker (APB) is presented as an open, containerized, software-defined packet broker built on SONiC that runs on disaggregated switch and ASIC hardware. The update matters to enterprise and telecom IT teams that need packet visibility capabilities without proprietary appliance lock-in or scaling limits.

Research Overview

The post describes limitations of traditional packet brokers that rely on proprietary hardware appliances and vendor-specific licensing. It frames the problem as insufficient affordability and flexibility as network traffic and monitoring requirements increase.

It then outlines APB as an alternative that places packet broker functions on SONiC-based switching infrastructure rather than dedicated proprietary appliances. The article links the approach to disaggregated hardware selection.

Key Findings

APB is described as open source, containerized, and software-defined, built on SONiC OS. The post states that organizations can deploy packet broker capabilities on switch and ASIC hardware of their choice.

The article claims cost reduction by replacing proprietary appliances with open, SONiC-enabled packet broker infrastructure. It states APB can save up to 60% on costs.

Technical Breakdown

The post says APB supports packet monitoring functions including filtering, replication, load balancing, tunnelling, and traffic optimization. It states forwarding and load balancing can operate at Layer 2, 3, and 4.

It lists supported features and protocols including MPLS, GRE, VXLAN, and IP-in-IP packet marking. Additional listed capabilities include replication, sampling, timestamping, packet slicing, user-defined filtering, and generic header filtering.

For management and control, the post lists UI, API, CLI, SSH, and port breakout, along with RADIUS, TACACS, SNMP, and NTP. It also states the platform works with FlowVision for GUI-based configuration.

Operational Impact

The article describes the operational model as disaggregated, separating packet broker software from underlying hardware. It states this model supports platform choice, scaling, and cost control.

It also connects APB to standard switch platforms while retaining packet broker functionality and performance as organizations scale. The article ties the claimed CapEx and OpEx reductions to removal of dedicated hardware and scaling constraints associated with traditional appliances.

5G and Modern Network Observability

The post lists features for flow-aware visibility and 5G monitoring, including GTP filtering. It states GTP filtering supports inner IP headers, TEIDs, and GTP-U extension headers.

It further describes VXLAN encapsulation and de-encapsulation and symmetric load balancing for traffic distribution. The post also states APB includes support for tunnelling via VXLAN and that it works with FlowVision for configuration.

The blog frames Aviz Packet Broker as an open, SONiC-based, containerized approach to packet brokering that supports disaggregated deployment, Layer 2 to Layer 4 monitoring features, and telecom-focused filtering for 5G environments. For enterprise IT and security decision-makers, the stated focus is on deployment flexibility and a reduction in packet broker hardware and scaling costs. Blog Signals brief is a fact-based summary of the vendor blog.