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Disaggregated Network Operating System (DANOS)

Disaggregated Network Operating System (OS) (DANOS) is an open-source network OS (network infrastructure software) for white-box switches and routers, developed under The Linux Foundation to support software-defined and disaggregated network architectures.

  • Open-source Network Optimization Suite (NOS) for white-box and bare-metal network devices (network OS).
  • Supports disaggregated routing architectures, separating hardware, OS, and control-plane software (network architecture).
  • Provides a Linux-based platform for building and deploying routing and switching functions (network infrastructure software).
  • Targets carrier, edge, and enterprise use cases that require programmable forwarding and control (service provider networking).
  • Developed as a community project hosted by The Linux Foundation, encouraging vendor and operator extensibility (open-source ecosystem).

More About Disaggregated Network Operating System (DANOS)

DANOS, the Disaggregated Network OS, is an open-source network OS (network infrastructure software) designed for use on white-box and bare-metal network hardware. Hosted by The Linux Foundation, it provides a platform for operators and vendors that adopt disaggregated networking models, where hardware, network OS, and higher-level control or management components are procured and evolved independently.

The project targets environments where routing, switching, and related network functions are deployed on merchant silicon-based platforms (network hardware) under a Linux-based control plane. DANOS provides the foundational OS and control software (network OS) that run on these devices, enabling forwarding, routing protocols, and associated management functions. Its architecture supports disaggregation by allowing integration with different hardware platforms and by exposing interfaces that can be used by higher-layer orchestration and control systems (network automation).

For service providers and large enterprises, DANOS is used to support edge, access, and aggregation network roles (service provider networking). Typical deployment scenarios include Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), edge routing, and other scenarios where operators want consistency across multiple hardware vendors while retaining the ability to customize software behavior. By decoupling the OS from the underlying hardware, DANOS enables uniform operational models and the potential for shared tooling, testing, and lifecycle management across diverse platforms (infrastructure standardization).

From a capabilities perspective, DANOS focuses on routing, switching, and associated control-plane and management-plane functions (network infrastructure software). It is built around a Linux kernel and user space, with additional components that provide configuration management, protocol daemons, and integration points for external controllers or orchestrators (network automation). Because it is developed as an open-source project under The Linux Foundation, DANOS can be extended with additional features, protocol support, or integrations by vendors and operators, provided these extensions comply with project governance and licensing.

Within an enterprise or operator technology catalog, DANOS fits into the category of network operating systems for white-box switching and routing (network infrastructure software). It is relevant in architectures that adopt network disaggregation, Software Defined Networking (SDN), or open hardware ecosystems, and in environments that prioritize source-available platforms for customization, security review, and vendor diversification. Its positioning within The Linux Foundation portfolio aligns it with other open networking initiatives, giving enterprises and service providers a consistent framework for evaluating and deploying open network software.