TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

The Linux Foundation

Open Source

The Linux Foundation creates horizontal umbrella for key open source projects

Ian Scales
By Ian Scales

Jan 24, 2018

via Flickr © Gunnar Wrobel (CC BY-SA 2.0)

via Flickr © Gunnar Wrobel (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Overcrowded field of open source projects to be narrowed
  • ONAP, OPNFV, OpenDaylight, FD.io, PDNA, and SNAS to be organised under an umbrella LF Network Fund (LFN)
  • Projects maintain their independence but LFN provides "avenues for greater collaboration" between them

Hot on the heels of Verizon’s joining the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP), a membership it shares with arch-rival AT&T, the Linux Foundation has announced the details of a major shift in the way its telecoms-related open source projects are to be organised. It’s combining six major open source projects under a ‘horizontal umbrella’, with more to follow.

The foundation is looking to gently narrow what many critics say is an over-crowded field of open-sourcery, to create a set of core Linux Foundation open source projects which, by implication, should form the basis of SDN/NFV and telcos’ technical transformation. Taken together with Verizon’s membership of ONAP - which is seen as  a major technology validation for ONAP and the Linux Foundation and a sign that locus of competitive rivalry is moving away from the open source infrastructure -  the establishment of  what the Linux Foundation is calling the LF Networking Fund (LFN) surely sees that organisation taking a lead by accelerating the development of key projects.

The projects to be organised under LFN are ONAP, OPNFV, OpenDaylight, FD.io (Fast data – Input/Output)  PDNA, and SNAS (Streaming Network Analytics System). The Linux Foundation talks of  LFN providing "avenues for greater collaboration between those projects, as well as related projects and communities across the ecosystem.” LFN’s influence is diffused via two bodies -  a  technical advisory council (TAC) and a marketing advisory council (MAC).

Perhaps the key dynamic here is that it’s hoped that, eventually, integration with one of the member projects means compatible integration with them all, reducing the amount of plug-festing and laboratory testing required to get stable interworking. At the same  time it’s being very careful not to come on too strong with anything that looks like a power grab. The individual projects will all maintain their fierce technical independence; their individual charters, objectives, roadmaps and so on. Membership and participation in the LFN is voluntary with each project deciding if and when to join.

The Linux Foundation says it’s trying to replicate the success it had in fostering the Cloud Native Computing Foundation which played a similar role in bringing together Platform as a Service (PaaS) projects. It expects it can inject similar cohesion into open source networking communities which are already working together but may be somewhat stymied by the lack of a structure for collaboration. It claims LFN projects have dramatically accelerated data networking, no reason why it can’t work the same magic again.

Related Topics
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Device Software & Apps,
  • Digital Platforms & Services,
  • News,
  • NFV,
  • Open Software,
  • Open Source,
  • SDN,
  • The Linux Foundation,
  • Transformation

More Like This

DSP Leaders World Forum

DSP Leaders World Forum 2022 Interview: Mark Chong, Singtel

May 27, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

The Fast Track to a Sustainable DSP Future

May 25, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

DSP Leaders World Forum 2022 Interview: Johan Christenson, Cleura

May 25, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

Capitalising on an Open Vendor Ecosystem

May 24, 2022

DSP Leaders World Forum

Clouds on the Horizon

May 24, 2022

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

10:14

Executive Interview: Vodafone’s Lucia De Miguel Albertos on the ultimate RAN Intelligent Controller

39:34

Figuring out the TCO of Open RAN

6:47

Dell's Role in Open RAN

4:24

Executive Interview: Neil McRae on BT's Open RAN Plans

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).