OpenNaaS

OpenNaaS is an open-source Network as a Service (NaaS) framework that provides programmatic control and abstraction for managing heterogeneous network resources.

• Open-source platform for NaaS (network automation and orchestration).
• Northbound APIs for programmatic network control and service provisioning.
• Plugin-based architecture for integrating heterogeneous network devices and domains.
• Support for virtualized and Software Defined Networking (SDN) environments.
• Tools for policy-based network configuration, monitoring, and lifecycle management.

More About OpenNaaS

OpenNaaS is an open-source framework that targets organizations that need programmable control over complex network infrastructures, including service providers, research networks, and enterprise IT environments. The project focuses on NaaS concepts, where network capabilities are exposed via software interfaces rather than through manual device-by-device configuration. By providing a common abstraction layer, OpenNaaS enables users to define, provision, and adjust network services using standardized workflows and automation.

The platform is structured around a modular and plugin-based architecture (network automation), which allows integration with diverse network elements such as switches, routers, optical transport equipment, and virtual network functions. Each device type or technology domain can be supported through specific drivers or plugins, which translate high-level service requests into device-level configurations. This approach is intended to handle heterogeneous network environments where multiple vendors and protocol families coexist.

OpenNaaS exposes northbound interfaces (network orchestration) that allow external systems, portals, or orchestration tools to request and manage network services. These interfaces are typically REST-style APIs that support operations such as path setup, bandwidth allocation, virtual circuit provisioning, and topology management, depending on the deployment context. On the southbound side, OpenNaaS interacts with network elements through device protocols and management interfaces, which can include command-line interfaces, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and other standard management protocols where supported by the underlying equipment.

The framework is frequently positioned alongside SDN and network function virtualization (NFV) concepts (SDN/NFV orchestration). It allows separation between service logic and device configuration, and can be integrated into broader SDN architectures where controllers or orchestrators coordinate compute, storage, and network resources. In research and education network environments, OpenNaaS is used to provide on-demand connectivity and virtualized network services for experiments, testbeds, or cross-domain collaborations.

From a marketplace taxonomy standpoint, OpenNaaS aligns with categories such as network automation and orchestration, NaaS control frameworks, and SDN/NFV management platforms. Its capabilities are relevant for enterprises and institutions that seek API-driven control over network topologies, policy-based provisioning of connectivity services, and lifecycle management of network resources. Because it is open source, organizations can extend or customize plugins, integrate it into existing OSS/BSS stacks, or embed it into higher-level service platforms that require programmable access to network infrastructure.