Best Software-Defined Networking Solutions for Linux of 2025

CruzOC is a multi-vendor, scalable network management and IT operations tool that provides robust but easy-to-use netops. CruzOC's integrated, automated management features include performance monitoring, configuration management, lifecycle management, and lifecycle management of 1000s of vendors. Administrators can use CruzOC to automate their data center operations and critical resources. This will improve network and service quality, speed up network deployments and lower operating expenses. The result is comprehensive and automated problem resolution from a single-pane-of-glass. Cruz Monitoring & Management. Monitoring & Analytics, NMS -- health, NPM traffic, log, and change. Automation & configuration management -- compliance and security -- orchestration, provisioning. Automated deployment -- auto-deploy, ZTP, remote deploy. Deployments are available both on-premises and in the cloud.

Cruz Fabric Controller provides true software-defined networking and control for managing fabrics in your remote data center, remote edges and remote sites. With a single-pane-of-glass, you can deploy and update fabrics, manage, monitor, maintain fabrics, and automate operations.

Trustgrid is the SD-WAN for software providers. The Trustgrid platform uniquely addresses the needs of SaaS application providers who rely on customer or partner-controlled environments. By combining an SD-WAN 2.0, edge computing, and zero trust remote access into a single platform we allow software providers to manage and support distributed application environments from the cloud to the edge. Simplify connectivity, enhance security, and guarantee network availability with Trustgrid.

DxOdyssey is an innovative software solution built on patented technology that allows users to establish highly available application-level micro-tunnels across a diverse range of locations and platforms. This software provides a level of ease, security, and discretion that surpasses all other options available in the market. By utilizing DxOdyssey, organizations can embark on a journey toward a zero trust security model, which is particularly beneficial for networking and security administrators managing multi-site and multi-cloud operations. As the traditional network perimeter has transformed, DxOdyssey’s unVPN technology has been specifically designed to adapt to this new landscape. Unlike old VPN and direct link methods that require extensive maintenance and expose the network to lateral movements, DxOdyssey adopts a more secure methodology, granting app-level access as opposed to network-level access, which effectively minimizes the attack surface. Furthermore, it achieves this while providing the most secure and efficient Software Defined Perimeter (SDP), facilitating connectivity for distributed applications and clients operating across various sites, clouds, and domains. With DxOdyssey, organizations can enhance their overall security posture while simplifying their network management.

ONAP serves as an all-encompassing framework for the orchestration, management, and automation of services relating to networks and edge computing for various stakeholders including network operators, cloud service providers, and businesses. The platform's real-time, policy-centric orchestration and automation capabilities for both physical and virtual network functions facilitate the swift deployment of new services while ensuring comprehensive lifecycle management, which is essential for the advancement of 5G and future network technologies. The Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) initiative brings together leading global carriers and technology providers with the intention of empowering end users to automate, design, orchestrate, and supervise services and virtual functions efficiently. By merging two significant open networking and orchestration initiatives, namely open-source ECOMP and the Open Orchestrator Project (OPEN-O), ONAP aims to establish a cohesive architecture and implementation that fosters collaboration within the open-source ecosystem. As a project under the auspices of the Linux Foundation, ONAP is committed to driving innovation and standardization in network automation. Ultimately, ONAP not only streamlines operations but also enhances the scalability and flexibility necessary for modern digital infrastructures.

Harness the full capabilities of your network through Lumen SD-WAN Solutions, which integrate automated security features, enhanced performance, and intelligent scalability to foster digital innovation. By simplifying the complexities and minimizing the risks associated with network transformation, Lumen SD-WAN solutions effectively secure and manage workloads across diverse connectivity types, all within a single, automated platform that offers centralized visibility and control. Discover how to optimize your network operations using SD-WAN technology. With its cutting-edge cloud gateway architecture and innovative Dynamic Multipath Optimization™ (DMPO) functionalities, Lumen SD-WAN, in collaboration with VMware, ensures dependable and secure high-performance access to critical applications, including voice and video, across branch locations, data centers, and cloud environments at scale. Organizations can quickly establish branch connectivity within minutes, supported by scalable management components tailored for mid-sized to large enterprises, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and agility.

Verge-OS stands out as the pioneering operating system that separates networking, computing (via hypervisor), and storage functionalities from standard bare metal hardware, thereby enabling the formation of virtual data centers. Unlike our rivals who focus on virtualizing individual machines, we take it a step further by virtualizing entire data centers in one comprehensive package. This solution is encapsulated in a single license and offers an intuitive interface for seamless management. Verge-OS serves as a robust Software Defined Networking platform, featuring a fully operational integrated firewall to enhance security. By abstracting the entire data center from its hardware foundation, Verge-OS efficiently merges all fundamental resources into the hypervisor framework. Additionally, it employs RAIN architecture within its vSAN, ensuring that storage becomes more distributed, shareable, and scalable. Furthermore, Verge-OS effectively consolidates and replaces various software and licensing costs related to hypervisors, SAN, NAS, firewalls, disaster recovery, backup solutions, orchestration, system management, and logging tools, while also abolishing the need for proprietary hardware maintenance contracts. This holistic approach not only streamlines operations but also significantly reduces overhead for businesses looking to optimize their IT infrastructure.

The unique PICOS open NOS, equipped with closely integrated control planes, provides network operators with precise and non-intrusive oversight of their enterprise applications, allowing for extensive and adaptable traffic analysis and real-time attack prevention. For achieving zero-trust networking and establishing software-defined perimeters, PICOS stands out as the optimal solution. Our premier open network operating system is compatible with open switches ranging from 1G to 100G interfaces, sourced from a diverse selection of Tier 1 manufacturers. This comprehensive licensing package delivers unparalleled support for enterprise functionalities available in the market. It incorporates the Debian Linux distribution, featuring an unchanged kernel to enhance DevOps programmability to its fullest extent. Furthermore, the Enterprise Edition is enhanced by AmpCon, an automation framework based on Ansible, which integrates Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) with the Open Network Install Environment (ONIE), streamlining the deployment and management of open network switches throughout the enterprise. With such advanced capabilities, organizations can ensure their networks are not only efficient but also secure against evolving threats.