The white-box world is growing in influence, so it's time to learn about what applications and use cases can take it to the next level. We'll be covering this again on our regular #whitebox social chat event on April 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT.

As we've profiled on The Rayno Report, the white box movement is an important part of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). A white box is an open, commodity hardware platform that can support both server and network switching applications using merchant silicon.

Both large hardware and software providers as well as startups are pursuing a white-box strategy. For example, HP (Nasdaq: HPQ) and Cumulus have teamed on a "brite box" strategy of delivering open datacenter switches with a partnership with Accton Technology and Cumulus Networks. Other big vendors such as Dell have also introduced open, white-box platforms, often teaming with startups to deliver software. Startups that supply important open software for white boxes include Big Switch, Pluribus Networks, and Pica8, among many others. Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) of white boxes, in addition to Accton, include Quanta, Penguin Computing, and Super Micro Computer Inc.

Pica8, a supplier of open white-box switches and a Linux-based OS, has been a sponsor of our successful #whitebox social chat, hosted on CrowdChat and pumped out through LinkedIn and Twitter. You can see the transcript of the last #whitebox chat here, which got 6,000 views!

Next week, we'll take the discussion further by exploring real-world use cases and implementations of white boxes.

If you'd like to learn more about white boxes -- or you are an expert and would like to join in the conversation -- please join our #whitebox event on April 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT. All you need to participate is a Web browser. You can also log in using Twitter or LinkedIn.