Getting Started

This document covers the deployment of Netvisor ONE on Pluribus Freedom Series, Edgecore and Dell Open Networking (ON) switches. The Linux-based Netvisor ONE OS is the industryʼs most programmable open-source based network operating system. Netvisor ONE provides rich Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing functionality primarily targeting the data center leaf-and-spine networks. Netvisor ONE includes the Adaptive Cloud Fabric software, which provides SDN control of the physical underlay, a virtualized VXLAN overlay delivering distributed services and rich telemetry with the ability to capture every TCP flow across the fabric. The Adaptive Cloud Fabric is built on a highly scaleable, controllerless architecture that delivers dramatic operational simplification, better network agility and increased resiliency while providing visibility, telemetry, and improved security.

Pluribus Netvisor ONE combines the benefits of Linux with a controllerless fabric. The traditional command line interface (CLI) is paired with fabric-wide programmability (via REST API) and DevOps tools such as Red Hat Ansible for agility and automation through a single point of management. Granular visibility and control are through a fabric-wide directory containing endpoint information (vPorts) as well as allowing for granular flow filtering and control (vFlow).

The Freedom, Edgecore and Dell Ethernet switches, based on latest-generation chipsets from Broadcom, are designed to implement extremely cost-effective, non-blocking, pay-as-you-grow leaf-and-spine architecture with predictable low latency, thus dramatically improving workload management and network agility.

In combination with the white box switching portfolio, Netvisor ONE provides best-in-class switching economics. Deployment flexibility is guaranteed by Pluribus Netvisor ONE with full Layer 2/Layer 3 stack, providing complete interoperability with legacy networking infrastructure, and allowing for easy insertion into brownfield deployments.

This document describes the steps needed to get Netvisor ONE installed on your white box equipment and readying for further configuration. The procedures described in this guide provide general outlines and some specific details. For more detailed information, refer to other documents available on Pluribus Networks website.

Dell Platforms

The overall procedure is detailed here:

1. Purchase Dell Open Networking (ON) hardware and Pluribus Networks Open Netvisor ONE Linux software from the Dell Download Store:

• Dell sends an email confirmation of the purchase
• Pluribus Networks sends an email confirmation of the purchase, plus:
• Pluribus Networks Cloud account information
• Instructions to download Netvisor ONE ONIE (install) image

2. Receive Dell Open Networking switches and note the Dell service tag number for each switch.
3. Connect to the Pluribus Networks Cloud website (cloud.pluribusnetworks.com) using account information:

• Download Netvisor ONE ONIE image (filename: onie-installer-version-number)
• Rename the file to onie-installer. If the filename is anything other than onie-installer, it will not install the image.  
• Activate device using Dell service tag identifier
• If the device has Internet access during installation, continue to Step 4.
• If the device does not have Internet access during installation, download activation keys file (file name: Netvisor ONE-activation-keys).

4. Complete hardware installation.
5. Install Netvisor ONE ONIE image on Dell ON switches.
6. Provisioning proceeds after Netvisor ONE installation:

• If the device has Internet access, provisioning is automatic (online provisioning).
• If the device does not have Internet access, provide Activation Keys downloaded earlier (offline provisioning). 

Freedom and Edgecore Platforms

The overall procedure is detailed here:

1. Pluribus Networks sends an email confirmation of the purchase, plus:

• Pluribus Networks Cloud account information
• Instructions to download Netvisor ONE ONIE (install) image

2. Receive Freedom Series and Edge-Core Ethernet Switches and note the service tag number for each switch
3. Connect to the Pluribus Networks Cloud website (cloud.pluribusnetworks.com) using account information:

• Download Netvisor ONE ONIE image (filename: onie-installer-version-number)
• Rename the file to onie-installer. If the filename is anything other than onie-installer, it will not install the image. 
• Activate device using the service tag identifier
• If the device has Internet access during installation, continue to step 4.
• If the device does not have Internet access during installation, download activation keys file (file name: onvl-activation-keys)

4. Complete hardware installation.
5. Install Netvisor ONE ONIE image on Freedom Series and Edge-Core Ethernet Switches.
6. Provisioning proceeds after Netvisor ONE installation:

• If the device has Internet access, provisioning is automatic (online provisioning).
• If the device does not have Internet access, provide Activation Keys downloaded earlier (offline provisioning).