Pica8 WhiteBox Switching, SDN and OpenFlow Fundamentals

Learn about SDN, OpenFlow and Whitebox switching also called Network Disaggregation.

Learn Pica8 white box switching - OpenFlow, OpenDaylight, BGP and more

This course explains and demonstrates white box switching technology using Pica8's operating system and physical white box switches.

Modules included:

  • Overview of Pica8 architecture
  • Configure BGP on Pica8 switches
  • Configure OpenFlow without a controller (add flows manually to Open vSwitch)
  • Integrate Pica8 switches with multiple controllers:
    • OpenDaylight
    • Floodlight
    • HP VAN

Learn how to configure Pica8 PicOS in both Layer2/Layer3 mode and OpenFlow mode:

PicOS is the Pica8 network operating system software used on white box switches.

PicOS eliminates vendor lock-in by delivering open, hardware-agnostic networking. Built on Linux, PicOS incorporates a full Layer-2 and Layer-3 feature set with support for OpenFlow, OVSDB, and other key SDN protocols. PicOS enables customers to deliver differentiated network applications and services on white box switches.

PicOS features vASIC®, a hardware abstraction technology that simplifies the process of supporting new hardware platforms, and it’s built on an unmodified Debian Linux kernel, making it easy for users to develop and integrate network applications.

Learn how to configure Open vSwitch on Pica8 switches:

Open vSwitch (OVS) is a production quality, multilayer virtual switch licensed under the open source Apache 2.0 license. It’s designed to enable massive network automation through programmatic extension, while still supporting standard management interfaces and protocols (e.g. NetFlow, sFlow, SPAN, RSPAN, CLI, LACP and 802.1ag). Available on all Pica8® and supported white box switches, PicOS™ supports OpenFlow 1.4 through OVS 2.3 integration. OVS runs as a process within PicOS™, providing the OpenFlow and OVSDB interfaces for external programmability by controllers or orchestration platforms.


Your Instructor


David Bombal
David Bombal

David Bombal (CCIE #11023 Emeritus) passed his Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Routing and Switching exam in January 2003. David has the highest rated and most popular course in the GNS3 Academy: SDN and OpenFlow Introduction.

David's software tools and training have been downloaded +100,000 times. Many thousands of engineers like you use his tools and training on a regular basis.

David has developed over 20 courses for HP which are used worldwide. These include multiple SDN courses and HP ASE certification courses (4 day Instructor led training).

David's YouTube videos have been viewed +2 million times.

David has been training Cisco and networking courses for 15+ years and has delivered instructor led courses in various countries around the world covering a wide range of Cisco topics from CCNA to CCIE.

He has also personally developed Cisco engineer utilities such as the VPN Config Generator, software, training materials, EBooks, videos and other products which are used throughout the world.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/davidbombal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidbombal

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidbombal


Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  Pica8 overview
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  White Box Data Center
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  Pica8 OS Architecture
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  Open Data Center Framework
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  Demo: Pica8, OpenFlow and OpenDaylight (ODL)
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  Demo: Pica8, OpenFlow and Floodlight
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  Thank You
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!