Open Network Install Environment

Created by Cumulus Networks, Inc. in 2012, the Open Network Install Environment (ONIE) Project is a small operating system, pre-installed as firmware on bare metal network switches, that provides an environment for automated operating system provisioning.

Incubated and adopted by the Open Compute Project in 2013, the ONIE project enables a bare metal network switch ecosystem where end users can choose among different network operating systems. ONIE enables switch hardware suppliers to manage their operations based on a small number of hardware SKUs. This in turn creates economies of scale in manufacturing and distribution enabling a thriving ecosystem of both network hardware and operating system alternatives.