Re: cheap MPLS router recommendations

[Eric Kuhnke <eric.kuhnke () gmail com>]

If we're talking about whitebox router and ipifusion, what we're really
talking about is vyatta/vyOS and the linux foundation DANOS stuff on an
ordinary x86-64 server that has a weird shape.

https://www.ipinfusion.com/commercial-version-of-danos-product-page/

https://www.danosproject.org/

In which case it really comes down to how comfortable you are with the
feature sets of the individual daemons contained within Vyatta/VyOS derived
products (FRR, etc), and then your trust level in the hardware. Typically
something such as a Taiwanese industrial/embedded platform manufacturer
such as Lanner:

http://www.lannerinc.com/products/network-appliances/x86-rackmount-network-appliances

If you look at the results of a linux kernel boot on a Lanner appliance
running VyOS, or a lspci -v, they're not significantly different than
taking a Dell or Supermicro rack server and sticking a whole bunch of Intel
or Chelsio 2 or 4-port 10GbE cards into it. It's just a weird shaped
motherboard, but ultimately derived from an Intel or AMD reference design,
and shares a lot in common in a block diagram with a 1U dual socket server
motherboard from a company like Tyan or Supermicro. You've got ethernet
NICs attached to the PCI-E bus the same as if they were slotted into cards.

Aside from the big names like Quanta, Compal and Clevo who will manufacture
these things for you in a bespoke fashion if you're a big cloud scale
operator, if you google "taiwan embedded industrial motherboard" you'll
find the companies that make most of the x86-64 whitebox router hardware.

I guess the point I'm trying to make above is that **if** you're confident
in both the SW and HW, you can disaggregate your choice of software
(vyatta/vyos/DANOS etc) from your own choice of hardware to best fit your
needs, rather than purchasing it together as a package.

On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 1:28 PM <adamv0025 () netconsultings com> wrote:

> Just to clarify what cheap means, ideally  -$2000 to $4000 new
>
> -new is preferred as buying used kit on second hand market one is at the
> mercy of the price fluctuations and availability.
>
>
>
> And the likes of the M2400 looks good 4x10G plus some 1G, unfortunately
> there are no details on the webpage (and the datasheet can’t be downloaded…
> )
>
>
>
> Are there more folks out there bundling open NOS and white-box HW along
> with the support for the whole thing?
>
>
>
>
>
> adam
>
>
>
> *From:* NANOG <nanog-bounces+adamv0025=netconsultings.com () nanog org> *On
> Behalf Of *Colton Conor
> *Sent:* Monday, October 19, 2020 4:51 PM
> *To:* tim () pelican org
> *Cc:* NANOG <nanog () nanog org>
> *Subject:* Re: cheap MPLS router recommendations
>
>
>
> I haven't tried one myself, but Dasan Zhone has the M2400 and M3000.
> Basically, a whitebox with IP Infusion code on it. New, I think the price
> point is sub $2000 to $4000 new. That's a ton of ports for that price
> point. Anyone tried these yet?
> https://dzsi.com/product-category/mobile-xhaul/
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 19, 2020 at 3:38 AM tim () pelican org <tim () pelican org> wrote:
>
> On Saturday, 17 October, 2020 00:41, "Tony Wicks" <tony () wicks co nz> said:
>
> > Well, there is always the MX104 (if you want redundancy) or MX80 if you
> > don’t. That will give you 80gig wire speed just don’t load it up with
> > more than one full table.
>
> Bear in mind that the MX80 is now in the EoL process, you have <4 years of
> support left.  Depending on your expected life-time / depreciation rules,
> buying one new right now might be unwise.
>
> Do *not* throw a full table at it (or any of the PowerPC Junipers) unless
> you have a lot of patience for reconvergence, and black-holes while you
> wait.
>
> MX104 is a nice box for getting dual-RE in something relatively compact
> and cheap, and has environmental hardening if that matters to you, but is
> still not best pleased with full tables.
>
> OP could do with clarifying "cheap" :)
>
> Regards,
> Tim.