{"id":52176,"date":"2018-10-03T14:08:22","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T14:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sickgaming.net\/blog\/2018\/10\/03\/att-details-open-white-box-specs-for-linux-based-5g-routers\/"},"modified":"2018-10-03T14:08:22","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T14:08:22","slug":"att-details-open-white-box-specs-for-linux-based-5g-routers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2018\/10\/03\/att-details-open-white-box-specs-for-linux-based-5g-routers\/","title":{"rendered":"AT&T Details Open White Box Specs for Linux-Based 5G Routers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This week AT&T will release detailed specs to the Open Compute Project<\/a> for building white box cell site gateway routers for 5G. Over the next few years, more than 60,000 white box routers built by a variety of manufacturers will be deployed as 5G routers in AT&T\u2019s network. <\/p>\n

In its Oct. 1 announcement<\/a>, AT&T said it will load the routers with its Debian Linux based Vyatta Network Operating System (NOS) stack. Vyatta NOS forms the basis for AT&T\u2019s open source dNOS platform, which in turn is the basis for a new Linux Foundation open source NOS project called DANOS<\/a>, which similarly stands for Disaggregated Network Operating System<\/a> (see below).<\/p>\n

AT&T\u2019s white box blueprint \u201cdecouples hardware from software\u201d so any organization can build its own compliant systems running other software. This will provide the cellular gateway industry with flexibility as well as the security of building on an interoperable, long-lifecycle platform. The white box spec appears to OS agnostic. However, routers typically run Linux-based NOS stacks, and that does not appear to be changing with 5G.<\/p>\n

The release of specs to the Open Compute Project — an organization that helps standardize open white box designs — departs from the traditional practice of contracting a few vendors to build proprietary solutions for cellular routers. AT&T\u2019s next-gen router blueprint will enable any hardware manufacturer willing to build to spec to compete for the orders. By attracting more manufacturers, AT&T aims to reduce costs, spur innovation, and more quickly meet the \u201csurging data demands\u201d for 5G. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe now carry more than 222 petabytes of data on an average business day,\u201d stated Chris Rice, SVP, Network Cloud and Infrastructure at AT&T. \u201cThe old hardware model simply can\u2019t keep up, and we need to get faster and more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reference design blueprint is said to be flexible enough to enable manufacturers to offer custom platforms for different use cases. In addition to offering faster mobile services, AT&T\u2019s 5G services will enable new applications in \u201cautonomous cars, drones, augmented reality and virtual reality systems, smart factories, and more,\u201d says AT&T. <\/p>\n

5G technology will not only provide a major boost in bandwidth for mobile customers, it should also enable wireless services to better compete with the cable providers\u2019 wired broadband Internet services for the home. This week, AT&T rival Verizon opened pre-orders<\/a> for consumer customers to sign up for 5G home internet service targeted for a launch in 2019. <\/p>\n

At publication time, neither AT&T or the Open Compute Project had not yet published the white box specs, but AT&T offered a few details:<\/p>\n