Enhancing Network Capabilities with FS PicOS® Switch Software

Our client is a specialized provider of customer-centric network solutions, including switches, routers, and wireless devices. With their strategic locations in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Poland, the client is well-positioned to offer professional consultancy, solution design, integration, and support services to customers across the EMEA region. To stay competitive and meet customer expectations, the client needed a more powerful network operating system (NOS) than their current open-source SONiC solution.

The client faced limitations with their existing SONiC NOS, which did not fully exploit their hardware’s capabilities. Their customers demanded advanced network features (l2/l3, VXLAN, etc) that the open-source SONiC NOS could not provide, causing potential business losses and customer dissatisfaction. Thus, the client was looking for a more robust NOS.

The client turned to FS for help via Edge-Core and we started having discussions from there. FS introduced PicOS® switch software, which was obviously compatible with the client’s Edge-Core hardware, but they wanted to test the software out to see if it could meet the needs their customers were requesting. We showed them in a demo what we could do to match their needs, and also discussed the product roadmap to show future product enhancements we are working on. The client could clearly see the difference between using PicOS® and SONiC.

Once the demo was done, our tech team provided setup assistance, ongoing support through weekly calls, and a dedicated Slack channel for real-time communication. The initial call was a couple of hours as our tech team helped set up the configs and the AmpCon™ management platform. Then the client purchased a few pilot PicOS® licenses and within a quarter they had customer demand and started ordering licenses frequently.

FS PicOS® switch software significantly enhanced the client’s product offering by enabling advanced network functionalities. Key outcomes include:

The client's existing open-source SONIC NOS was limited in its ability to fully utilize the hardware's capabilities, leaving advanced functions underutilized. The PicOS® switch software resolved this by adding critical features like L2/L3 and VXLAN capabilities. For example, with PicOS®, the client was able to enable hardware-accelerated VXLAN tunneling, which dramatically improved network virtualization performance. Additionally, the enhanced L2/L3 routing features allowed the hardware to handle more complex traffic management tasks, such as dynamic load balancing and multi-path routing, resulting in a more robust and feature-rich solution that met their customers' growing demands.

The PicOS® switch software was fully compatible with the client's hardware, ensuring that all hardware functions were fully realized. This compatibility not only enhanced overall system performance and stability but also made it easier for the client to integrate and deploy new network solutions, reducing the risk of compatibility issues and streamlining their operations.

The enhanced capabilities of the NOS led to significantly higher customer satisfaction, allowing the client to meet their network performance needs and exceed customer expectations. This improvement was largely due to the seamless integration of PicOS® with the client’s existing hardware and the comprehensive technical support provided by FS. With the ongoing support of the FS tech team such as regular updates, dedicated assistance during deployment, and a responsive communication channel, the client could ensure smooth operations and quickly address any issues that arose.

Overall, the collaboration with FS allowed the client to overcome technical challenges, deliver more effective network solutions, and achieve significant business growth.