Belgian operator IPNexia refreshed its data center infrastructure with architecture based on the software for open networking in the cloud (SONiC) standard.

Delivered by Edgecore Networks and Deca Consulting, the upgrade saw a non-blocking, 100 Gb/s (100G) spine-leaf architecture built on switches running Broadcom-based enterprise SONiC. The framework consisted of VxLAN EVPN, which combines virtual extensible LAN (VXLAN) for layer-two overlay tunneling and Ethernet VPN (EVPN) as the control plane.

Day-zero automation was enabled using zero-touch provisioning, with day-one automation configuration based on NetBox-driven Ansible workflows. Infrastructure-as-code (IaC) was enabled alongside version-controlled configurations.

“The open SONiC platform delivers enterprise-grade stability while giving us the flexibility to rapidly deploy multitenant services supporting our full portfolio of VoIP UC (voice over internet protocol unified communications), mobile services, cloud connectivity, and security solutions," IPNexia CEO Michel Coric noted in a statement. "We now have a scalable, future-ready infrastructure that matches the operational agility expected from a competitive modern ISP."

The implementation is a further boost for open-source in networking via SONiC. In addition, the standard's dedicated foundation recently saw Nokia sign up to join the likes of Arista Networks, Broadcom, Cisco, Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft, which originally developed the SONiC network operating system for its Azure cloud platform.

Last year also closed out with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) launching the first commercial deployment of an AMD Helios-based AI rack-scale system, made possible by following SONiC open standards, as well as including SONiC compatibility on its new QFX5240 and QFX5250 switches.