# Cumulus Linux Introduction

## HELP ?

With David Bombal on all platforms (Udemy, YouTube etc) -a single poit of contact is o [Davids discord server](http://discord.davidbombal.com) 

## What is Cumulus Linux - Data Center Networking

* Customers replacing proprietary Operating systems with Open Source Operating systems
* Creating an Open Ecosystem, with an agile, open scalable unprecedented cost savings
* Old days, server were monolithic, complex systems with lock in and don't scale like Sun Solaris with Sun HW and Software - can scale - no add-ons etc. Nowdays more flexibility with Linux
* Not so on networking hardware.Still have vendor Lock-in such as Cisco, Juniper etc.
* Cumulus Linux wants to change all that - just like Linux in the war of the servers
  * Other providers offering "White-box Switching"
    * Pica8
    * Open Switch
    * Big Switch
* Open Architecture - no longer tied to a single vendor
  * Choice of Applications
  * Choice of Operating System
  * Choice of Hardware

![](/files/-MJTe02x814z2Clihdc5)

[Cumulus Networks Hardware Compatibility List](https://cumulusnetworks.com/products/hardware-compatibility-list/)

## ONIE (Open Network Install Environment)

ONIE is a 'single unified installer' that can be used across all Cumulus hardware supported switches

* Same was as we need software to boot a server and then allow you to install an OS like Linux or Windoze on the server.
* On a SWITCH we also need a 'boot loader' and ONIE to install the OS (Cumulus Linux) onto the switch
* ONIE allows you to download and install Cumulus Linux across the network (like PXE in servers)


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