White Box in the Enterprise: Why Isn't It a Popularity?

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If you’re in an enterprise CIO, CFO, or network operations position, you’ve probably read an article about how a service provider or cloud provider saved up to 50% on network equipment by using generic “white box” technology instead of proprietary routers and switches. It’s hard not to wonder if your own network budget could afford twice as much gear, and which projects would now meet their business case. Can enterprises participate in the “white box revolution”? The answer is maybe, if they can address some of the issues that service providers and cloud providers already face:

compatibility

The first problem is finding the hardware and the software. White-box hardware requires software, either an all-inclusive "network operating system" that provides all the functionality you need, or an operating system plus a separate routing/switching package. The software can't just be thrown on something and run directly; it must be matched to the hardware. In some cases, the matching process is achieved through the same types of drivers found on PCs and servers, but not all hardware has drivers to match all software. You may choose a white box and not find software you like, and then choose software you like and no white box you like can fully support it. This is why enterprises should avoid white-box hardware and software self-integration at all costs.

Supplier "passing the buck" and technical issues

The second problem, and perhaps the biggest, is the introduction of white boxes into the network. Few people will likely set aside their current network technology to use white boxes, so white box switches and routers will have to be incorporated into a network that may be built with proprietary equipment. This raises cultural issues as well as technical issues.

The cultural issue is simple; your current network vendor will resent your white box decision and will likely blame the new equipment for every little problem or glitch you encounter. When this happens, you'll need to turn to the white box vendor for help, but they'll likely blame everything on the software, or they may point the finger at the proprietary equipment vendor. The software vendor will likely fight back by pointing the finger at everyone, and all players may see your own integration efforts as the source of the problem.

The technology problem is essentially a management problem. All network devices must be managed, and the management systems and practices used by most enterprises tend to be adapted to their current devices. White box management is usually set up by software, and you don't have much choice in how the management function runs. This means that your current network operations staff will have to deal with multiple management options depending on the equipment they use.

Financial Potential

Will the hopes of a white box “windfall” be dashed? To be sure, you can’t eliminate all white box risks that your enterprise faces, but you can take steps to reduce them to a point where “benefit > risk.” The first step you need to take is to select candidate applications for white box that won’t cause you trouble.

If you need switches or routers everywhere, don't start a "white box revolution." White box technology should not be mixed with proprietary elements too much (preferably none). The most successful white box projects have been in the data center, but replacing a bunch of virtual network edge routers or installing LAN switches in a new facility is also a good option. Just know that a few white boxes will rarely make a difference. You need to deploy enough devices for the savings to make sense. Big enough, but not too big.

Once you have answered the above questions, you can consider product sources. Celestica, Dell, EdgeCore, Foxconn, Lanner and Quanta are some of the most well-known white box vendors. Enterprises can match each product line to their switch/router needs and choose a vendor that not only provides the products that the enterprise needs currently, but also provides additional products that may eventually need to be added due to changes in traffic levels.

Some white box vendors may offer you a choice of software. White box software is available from companies such as Arista (EOS series), Arrcus (ArcOS), Pluribus (Netvisor ONE), and others. All of these companies offer a "network operating system" (NOS), which includes all the software needed to transform a white box into a switch or router. In addition, it also includes management interfaces, so you will be able to determine whether a given solution fits your network operations tools and practices.

The final step is to pilot, pilot, pilot! Don’t blindly trust vendor statements or white box success stories. You should conduct lab and field trials before full deployment, and involve the white box vendor during the initial product evaluation. In the pilot, you need to test performance and manageability, and verify the interfaces between the white box elements and the existing network. Make sure you have good visibility into these interfaces, as this is where the buck stops.

If you're still concerned about integrating white boxes with your proprietary network hardware, check to see if your switch/router vendor offers "disaggregated" software and hardware, meaning they sell the two separately. This probably won't save you a lot of money compared to a true white box network, but it might be worth considering if you have some retained proprietary equipment that complicates the task of deploying new white boxes. Testing whether you can run your chosen white box software on those proprietary devices may save you a lot of headaches.

If you follow all the steps correctly, how much can you save? The 50% cost savings that some service providers claim are not true, but companies that follow all these rules can save about 30% on equipment costs and prevent management and support costs from rising. So if you are tempted by the 30% savings and can apply the above advice, then white box networking is worth a try. Remember, today, choosing a white box strategy is no riskier than changing suppliers.