Skip to main content

Pica8/XORPlus

Pica8/XORPlus is a network Operating System (OS) (network infrastructure) for white box and brite box Ethernet switches, provided by Pica8 for data center, campus, and service provider environments.

  • Linux-based network OS (network infrastructure) for white box and brite box switches.
  • Supports OpenFlow and other Software Defined Networking (SDN) integrations (software-defined networking) for programmable control planes.
  • Provides L2/L3 switching and routing features (enterprise networking) for campus and data center networks.
  • Integrates with Pica8’s management and automation tools (network operations) for configuration and lifecycle management.
  • Targets disaggregated networking deployments (disaggregated network infrastructure) using commodity switching hardware.

More About Pica8/XORPlus

Pica8/XORPlus is a commercial network OS (network infrastructure) developed by Pica8 for disaggregated switching environments built on white box and brite box Ethernet switches. It is designed for campus, data center, and service provider networks that adopt open hardware and require a software platform to deliver standard Ethernet switching, routing, and SDN capabilities.

The system is built on a Linux base (network OS architecture), which enables administrators and automation systems to interact with the switch OS using familiar tools and interfaces. Pica8/XORPlus provides core Layer 2 and Layer 3 features (enterprise networking), including Ethernet switching, VLANs, link aggregation, and IP routing, allowing organizations to use commodity switching hardware in place of traditional integrated chassis systems while still delivering standard enterprise connectivity services.

A core focus of Pica8/XORPlus is support for SDN (software-defined networking). Pica8 positions its platform to interoperate with OpenFlow controllers and other SDN frameworks, enabling programmable control of forwarding behavior on supported switches. This SDN support is combined with conventional control-plane protocols so that operators can blend traditional networking with centrally controlled flows as required.

Pica8/XORPlus connects into Pica8’s broader tooling and management ecosystem (network operations), which includes configuration, automation, and monitoring capabilities. Through these integrations, network teams can apply templates, enforce configuration standards, and manage device lifecycles across fleets of white box switches. The Linux foundation also permits use of common automation frameworks and scripting approaches, aligning the switch OS with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) workflows.

In enterprise and institutional deployments, Pica8/XORPlus is used in campus access, aggregation, and data center leaf-spine fabrics (data center networking), as well as in service provider edge and metro use cases that favor disaggregated networking. Its alignment with open networking hardware makes it relevant when organizations evaluate alternatives to vertically integrated switch platforms, while still requiring vendor-supported software, documented features, and lifecycle support.

From a directory and taxonomy perspective, Pica8/XORPlus fits into the categories of network operating systems for white box switching (network infrastructure), SDN-capable switching platforms (software-defined networking), and Linux-based network device software (network OS). It is positioned for enterprises and service providers that want Ethernet switching and routing with SDN integration on commodity hardware with commercial vendor backing.