Replacing a chassis-based data center core with SONiC
A rack-by-rack plan for moving an enterprise data center from a proprietary NOS to an EVPN-VXLAN fabric on SONiC, with rollback at every step.
This is an example of how we approach this kind of project, not a report on a named client engagement.
The typical starting point
An enterprise runs its data center on chassis switches approaching end of support. The renewal quote includes new hardware and a new licensing model, and the network team wants to avoid another lock-in cycle.
How we run it
- Assess. We inventory the topology, VLANs, routing and tooling, and identify features that need attention in SONiC.
- Translate and test. Existing configurations are converted automatically, reviewed by hand, and run in a lab that mirrors the production fabric.
- Coexist. New leaf-spine pods run EVPN-VXLAN and interoperate with the existing core while workloads move.
- Cut over rack by rack. Each change window has a staged rollback image and a clear go/no-go check.
- Hand over. Runbooks, monitoring and training so the in-house team owns the network afterwards.
What we measure
Convergence time, BGP session stability, application latency before and after each cutover, and total cost of ownership against the renewal quote.