PLVision’s new release of SONiC Lite – the lightweight enterprise distribution of SONiC – expands protocol support and tightens resource efficiency for campus and edge network deployments.
Version 1.13.0 introduces PIM SM (Protocol Independent Multicast – Sparse Mode) and multicast routing, opening SONiC Lite to deployments that depend on efficient group traffic delivery – from enterprise video distribution to industrial telemetry. Alongside protocol expansion, this release brings reductions in RAM usage, enabling SONiC Lite to run efficiently on more affordable hardware without sacrificing operational stability.
PIM SM enables scalable, on-demand multicast distribution by routing traffic only to receivers that have explicitly joined a group. This is the industry-standard approach for multicast in enterprise and campus environments, and its availability broadens the range of network architectures where SONiC Lite can be deployed as a production-ready NOS.
The reduced RAM footprint makes it easier to design edge and access-layer hardware with less memory, helping keep BOM costs down, especially in the context of 2026 RAM pricing.
SONiC Lite 1.13.0 continues to deliver on its core promise: enterprise-class networking capabilities on affordable, vendor-neutral hardware. Whether you’re managing a DC, a campus deployment, an edge site, or a multi-tenant access layer, this release makes SONiC Lite a stronger fit for resource-conscious and multicast-dependent environments alike.
Ready to experience SONiC Lite? Try the SONiC Lite Demo – follow the setup guide to get started.
About PLVision
As a European leader in open, disaggregated technologies, PLVision delivers custom vendor-agnostic software networking solutions, giving you full control, lower costs, and future-ready scalability. We offer complete solutions, from A to Z. No matter who you are – a startup or an enterprise – we will become your magic wand.
About SONiC Lite
SONiC Lite is an enterprise distribution of SONiC by PLVision for cost-effective management and access platforms in data center, edge, and campus deployments. SONiC Lite enables the construction of networks using less demanding and more affordable networking equipment while remaining hardware vendor-neutral and contains all the key features of SONiC needed for your use case (L2 switching, L3 routing, security, etc.).