Open Networking Foundation

Open Networking Foundation
Abbreviation ONF
Formation March 21, 2011 (2011-03-21)
Type 501(c)(6) NPO
Purpose Software control of network operation
Executive Director
 Dan Pitt[1]
Website www.opennetworking.org

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) is a nonprofit, mutually beneficial trade organization, funded by prominent companies such as Deutsche Telekom, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and Yahoo! aimed at improving networking through software-defined networking (SDN) and standardizing the OpenFlow protocol and related technologies.[2] The standards-setting and SDN-promotion group was formed out of recognition that cloud computing will blur the distinctions between computers and networks.[3] The initiative is meant to speed innovation through simple software changes in telecommunications networks, wireless networks, data centers and other networking areas.[4]

As of December 31, 2013, the organization had 123 member companies. By June 2014 ONF had grown to over 150 member companies including 24 start-up companies in Software Defined Networking. [5] The full list of members may be viewed on the organization's membership page. Member companies include many networking-equipment vendors, semiconductor companies, computer companies, software companies, telecom service providers, hyperscale data-center operators, and enterprise users.

Google's system-wide adoption of ONF's OpenFlow software in 2012 was discussed by Urs Hölzle at the Open Networking Summit in April, 2012.[6] Hölzle is the Chairman/President of ONF's board of directors, serving on the Board along with representatives of the other five founding board members plus NTT Communications Corp and Goldman Sachs. Stanford professor Nick McKeown and U.C. Berkeley professor Scott Shenker also serve on the board as founding directors representing themselves.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 ONF overview, ONF webpage. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  2. ↑ March 2011 "Open Networking Foundation Formed to Speed Network Innovation" Check |url= value (help).
  3. ↑ New York Times: “Open Networking Foundation Pursues New Standards.” Markoff. March 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ ComputerWorld: “Google and other titans form Open Networking Foundation.” Noyes, March 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ Eweek,"SDN Consortium Adds 24 Startups to Its Membership List", June 18, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  6. ↑ Levy, Steven, "Going With the Flow: Google’s Secret Switch to the Next Wave of Networking", Wired, April 17, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, December 04, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.