Download Solution Brief
30-50% Lower Hardware Costs
50-70% Fewer Resources Required
100% Hardware Vendor Independence
The Challenge
Organizations want to extend SONiC across their entire infrastructure – but Community SONiC is too resource-intensive for access, edge, and management switches. This forces you to maintain multiple network operating systems, increasing complexity and operational costs.
The Solution: SONiC Lite
A lightweight, enterprise-ready distribution that delivers SONiC’s vendor independence and cloud-grade capabilities in a streamlined architecture. Purpose-built for resource-constrained switches, making true end-to-end SONiC deployments possible.
What is SONiC Lite
SONiC Lite is an enterprise-ready distribution of SONiC optimized for switches where full-scale Community SONiC has been too resource-intensive. Built on proven foundations that power hyperscaler networks worldwide, it delivers:
Enterprise functionality
Access-level features including PoE, 802.1X, RADIUS, MACsec, plus comprehensive automation APIs
Hardware efficiency
Optimized for affordable, low-spec white box platforms with minimal CPU, RAM, and storage requirements
Unified operations
SDN-ready architecture that seamlessly integrates with existing SONiC deployments and community tools
Open-source based
Linux-based, vendor-neutral NOS with transparent roadmap and customer-driven innovation
Whether you’re extending SONiC from core to edge, accelerating time-to-market as an OEM, or deploying customizable NaaS solutions, SONiC Lite delivers vendor neutrality and cost efficiency without compromise.
Enterprise SONiC for Lean Hardware
- Runs efficiently on switches with 30-50% lower hardware costs.
- Deploy SONiC where it was previously impossible – access, edge, campus, and OOB management.
Highly Customizable & Modular
- Flexible architecture enables deep customization.
- Add or remove features per deployment.
- Full control over roadmap, integrations, and feature development.
White Box Ready & Vendor-Neutral
- Disaggregated NOS architecture supports white box hardware from multiple vendors.
- No proprietary lock-in.
- Choose suppliers and negotiate pricing freely.
Production-Ready with Enterprise Support
- Hardened for reliability with enterprise-grade support, SLAs, regular security patches, and feature updates.
- Not raw open-source requiring heavy maintenance.
SONiC Lite Solution Brief
- Comprehensive Overview for Decision Makers
- Technical Architecture and Deployment Models
- Technical Specifications & Features
- Complete Feature Set and Protocol Support
- Hardware Requirements and Compatibility Matrix
For Enterprises Deploying SONiC – Extend SONiC Across Your Entire Infrastructure
High Cost of Proprietary Networking
Expensive licensing, recurring fees, and overpaying for features you don’t need on access or edge switches.
Vendor Lock-In & Lack
of Flexibility
Slow vendor roadmaps, impossible customizations, inability to choose alternative hardware vendors.
Community SONiC Too Heavy for Access & Edge
Resource-intensive requirements increase TCO. Managing multiple platforms adds complexity.
- Runs on affordable hardware (30-50% lower costs) with no vendor lock-in
- Full customization – deploy only features you need Eliminate unnecessary costs at the network edge
- Open ecosystem: choose hardware vendors, roadmap priorities, and system integrations
- Modular architecture enables custom features
- Avoid vendor pricing premiums and forced upgrade cycles
- Lightweight architecture for access, edge, and management
For Service Providers & NaaS – Flexible, Customizable Solutions at Scale
High Operational Costs (OPEX)
- Large fleets generate high power, licensing, and maintenance costs.
- Operating expenses compound at scale.
Limited Customization for Unique Use Cases
- Features tied to pricing tiers.
- Custom builds require costly vendor involvement.
How SONiC Lite Solves It:
- Reduced energy consumption with power-efficient architecture
- Extended hardware lifecycle delays capital refreshes
- Minimal resource footprint reduces OPEX at scale
- Add or remove features per deployment type
- Ideal for edge, CPE, and access service environments
- Complete control over roadmap and integrations
For OEMs & Hardware Vendors – Accelerate Time-to-Market with SONiC Foundation
High Cost of Developing
a Network OS
- Building and maintaining proprietary NOS requires massive investment.
- R&D costs limit competitiveness.
Long
Time-to-Market
- Custom NOS integration takes months.
- Delays reduce competitiveness.
Limited Market Reach Without SONiC Support
- Growing demand for SONiC-based solutions.
- Lack of SONiC support means lost opportunities.
How SONiC Lite Solves It:
- Ready-to-integrate open NOS foundation
- Reduced R&D costs and faster development cycles
- Leverage SONiC compatibility as a market differentiator
- Lightweight, modular design accelerates hardware porting
- Quicker product launches and faster revenue realization
- Lower BOM costs (reduced RAM, CPU, storage requirements)
- Bring SONiC to entry-level and mid-range switches
- Increase win rates on open networking RFPs
- Expand into high-growth SONiC-accessible markets
Use Cases
Enterprise Networks
- Unified SONiC Infrastructure: Extend existing SONiC core to access and management layers
- Campus & Branch Networks: Modern security with 802.1X, RADIUS integration
- Out-of-Band Management: Lightweight, reliable management plane
Data Center & Cloud
- Management Switches: Purpose-built for DC management with minimal overhead
- Hybrid SONiC Deployments: Seamless integration with existing Community SONiC
- Edge Computing: Consistent SONiC experience from core to edge
Service Provider Networks
- Access Aggregation: Cost-effective, customizable platform
- Customer Premises Equipment: Field-deployable with remote management
- Distributed Edge: Scalable architecture for geographically distributed deployments
OpenLAN Switching
- Standards-Based Deployments: Native OpenLAN Switching specifications support
- Multi-Vendor Environments: Interoperable across diverse hardware
- Campus Modernization: Cloud-grade networking for educational and corporate campuses
Which Use Case Matches Yours?
Let our experts design the optimal SONiC Lite deployment for your environment.
Simplified Infrastructure: One Network OS, Every Layer
- Eliminate complexity of managing multiple network operating systems.
- Unified SONiC from core to edge with consistent tools and workflows.
Freedom from Vendor Lock-In, Build on Open Standards
- No vendor pricing premiums or forced upgrades.
- Gain negotiating power across multiple suppliers.
- Complete control over roadmap and customizations.
Optimized Total Cost of Ownership, Lower CAPEX & OPEX
- 30-50% lower hardware costs.
- No hardware vendor lock-in or forced upgrades.
- Extended equipment lifecycles.
- Reduced training and operational overhead.
Designed for Rapid Scaling. Cloud-Like Network Operations
- Lightweight architecture enables fast deployment and streamlined operations.
- SDN-ready for modern network programmability and automation.
Built on Trusted SONiC Foundations: Battle-Tested Platform
- Powered by principles that made Community SONiC a hyperscaler standard.
- Enhanced with enterprise support, SLAs, and access-level features.
Highly Customizable & Extensible Modular Architecture
- Deep customization capabilities.
- Add or remove features per deployment.
- Transparent roadmap with opportunities for customer-driven proposals.
Calculate Your Savings
See how much you could save by switching to SONiC Lite – optimized TCO without
compromising performance.
SONiC Lite Features
The access switch pre-defines this feature list:
- TACACS+
- RADIUS
- 802.1x
- OLS Client
- Unified CLI (Cisco-like)
- MACsec*
- Management VRF
- LLDP
- PVST
- VLAN
- Static LAG
- LACP
- DHCP IPv4/v6 Client
- DHCP IPv4/v6 Relay
- DHCP IPv4/v6 Server
- DHCPv4 client for VLANs
- Nested VLAN
- IGMP Snooping
- MCLAG
- IPv4/IPv6
- Static routing
- ECMP
- BGP
- OSPFv2
- ISIS
- QoS
- Storm Control
- PoE++
- ACL
- SONiC 202405 as baseline
- Backup / Restore
- Full System Reset / Reboot
- Factory Reset Configuration
*Celestica platforms only
SONiC Lite Supported Hardware
SONiC Lite currently supports a select range of switch models. This list is actively expanding and is being updated regularly.
Model
ASIC
Port Config
ES-2227-54TS PoE and no PoE
Marvell AC5X family
32x1G+16×2, 5G+6x25G
Model
ASIC
Port Config
ECS4650-54P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+6x25G
ECS4650-54T
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+6x25G
ECS5550-54X
Marvell Prestera Aldrin2
48х10G SFP+ & 6х100G
ECS5550-30X
Marvell Prestera Aldrin2
24х10G SFP+ & 6х100G
ECS4655-P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+6x25G SFP28
ECS4655-30P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+6x25G
ECS4655-T
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+6x25G SFP28
ECS4655-30T
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+6x25G
Model
ASIC
Port Config
M2-W6510-48GT4V
Broadcom
48x1G+4x25G
Model
ASIC
Port Config
S7801-54XS
Broadcom
48x10G SFP+ & 6x100G QSFP28
Model
ASIC
Port Config
ES1000-24P
Marvell AC5X family
24x1G+4x25G SFP28
ES1000-48P
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+4x25G SFP28 ports
ES1000-48CP
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+4x25G SFP28 ports
ES1500-8P
Marvell AC5X family
8×2,5 GbE+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-24
Marvell AC5X family
24×2,5 GbE+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-48
Marvell AC5X family
48×2,5 GbE+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-48
Marvell AC5X family
48×2.5G+4x25G SFP28
ES1000-24P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
24x1G+4x25G SFP28
ES1000-48P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+4x25G SFP28
ES1000-48C
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+4x25G SFP28
ES1000-48CP PoE
Marvell AC5X family
48x1G+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-24
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-8P PoE
Marvell AC5X family
8×2.5G+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-24CP PoE
Marvell AC5X family
24×2.5G+4x25G SFP28
ES1500-48CP PoE
Marvell AC5X family
48×2.5G+4x25G SFP28
Where to Buy
Elevate your network infrastructure with the Wistron ES-2227-54TS switch and SONiC Lite enterprise distribution – a robust, ready-to-deploy bundle designed for optimized performance, control, sustainability, and agility. Ideal for data centers, campus environments, and edge networks, this solution offers unmatched flexibility within a unified, disaggregated network.
2. Choose the Wistron ES-2227-54TS switch & SONiC Lite bundle.
3. Submit your request to unlock the full potential of your network infrastructure.Ready to try the Wistron & SONiC Lite bundle? Follow the link to discover its benefits!
Why PLVision
Deep SONiC Expertise
- Active contributors to the SONiC community since the early days.
- Proven expertise in adapting SONiC for diverse use cases and hardware platforms.
Production-Hardened Solutions
- Not just software – production-ready solutions tested across real-world scenarios, validated with multiple hardware platforms.
Complete Lifecycle Support
- Strategic planning
- Architecture design, implementation, migration
- Multi-level technical support
Ecosystem Leadership
- Partnerships with leading hardware vendors, ASIC manufacturers, and solution providers for seamless integration.
Work with the SONiC Experts
Benefit from PLVision's deep experience delivering enterprise SONiC solutions across industries.
Ready to Extend SONiC Across Your Infrastructure?
Contact our team for a consultation to discuss how SONiC Lite can enable unified open
networking from core to edge.
What We’ll Cover:
- Evaluation of your existing or planned SONiC infrastructure
- Use case assessment for access, edge, and management layers
- ROI analysis and TCO comparison
- Hardware recommendations and compatibility
- Customization options and feature development
- Support options and enterprise SLAs
- Implementation timeline and migration planning
Discover How SONiC Lite Fits Your Business
Tell us about your use case
FAQ
What is SONiC Lite?
SONiC Lite is a lightweight, enterprise-ready distribution of SONiC optimized for access, edge, and management switches with limited computational and storage resources. It brings SONiC's vendor independence and open-source benefits to network layers where traditional Community SONiC has been too resource-intensive.
How is SONiC Lite different from Community SONiC?
SONiC Lite requires 50-70% fewer hardware resources while maintaining enterprise-grade features. It's optimized for 1G and 10G switches, includes access-layer capabilities (PoE, 802.1X, RADIUS, MACsec), and comes with enterprise support and hardening for production deployments.
Is SONiC Lite production-ready?
Absolutely. SONiC Lite is hardened for enterprise deployments with comprehensive testing, stability guarantees, enterprise support with SLAs, and regular security patches and feature updates.
What hardware does SONiC Lite support?
SONiC Lite runs on white box switches from multiple vendors based on both Broadcom and Marvell ASICs. We provide a compatibility matrix and can help you select optimal hardware for your use case.
Can SONiC Lite integrate with my existing SONiC infrastructure?
Yes. SONiC Lite is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing Community SONiC deployments, enabling unified management and operations across your entire network from core to edge.
What level of support is available?
We offer flexible support options from basic to enterprise-grade 24/7 coverage with guaranteed response times, dedicated support engineers, and direct access to our development team.
How does SONiC Lite reduce costs?
SONiC Lite delivers savings through lower hardware costs (30-50% reduction), extended equipment lifecycles, reduced operational overhead, and lower training requirements through unified tooling.
Is SONiC Lite suitable for small deployments?
Yes. SONiC Lite scales efficiently from small deployments to large distributed networks. Its minimal resource footprint and operational efficiency make it ideal for organizations of any size.
What features does SONiC Lite include?
SONiC Lite includes comprehensive Layer 2/3 features, advanced routing protocols, access-layer capabilities (PoE, 802.1X, RADIUS, MACsec), modern security features, telemetry, automation APIs, and more. See our Product Brief for complete specifications.
What is the OpenLAN Switching (OLS) uCentral client and does SONiC Lite support it?
The OLS uCentral client is a lightweight agent that connects switches to a uCentral controller for centralized provisioning, monitoring, and policy management. SONiC Lite supports uCentral client integration on validated platforms, enabling secure onboarding, remote configuration, telemetry, and simplified fleet operations.
How long does deployment take?
Deployment timelines vary based on scale and complexity. With our professional services, most organizations complete initial deployments within 4-8 weeks from planning to production.