Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 27, 2026

Open Network Install Environment

The Open Network Install Environment (ONIE) is an open-source "install environment", that acts as an enhanced boot loader utilizing facilities in a Linux/BusyBox environment.

Last revised
May 27, 2026
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The Open Network Install Environment (ONIE) is an open-source "install environment", that acts as an enhanced boot loader utilizing facilities in a Linux/BusyBox environment.1

Environment

This small Linux operating system allows end-users and channel partners to install a network operating system as part of data center provisioning, similar to the way servers are provisioned with an operating system of choice.

ONIE enables network switch hardware suppliers, distributors and resellers to manage their operations based on a small number of hardware stock keeping unit (SKUs). This in turn creates economies of scale in manufacturing, distribution, stocking, and return merchandise authorization (RMA) enabling an ecosystem of both network hardware and operating system alternatives.

ONIE was created by Cumulus Networks (now a part of NVIDIA) in 2012 before it was adopted by the Open Compute Project in 2013.2

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Bruyère, Marc (2016). An outright open source approach for simple and pragmatic internet exchange (PhD thesis). Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier.
  2. "ONIE". Open Compute Project. Open Compute Project. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
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