SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
Copyright (c) 2019-2020 Intel Corporation

OpenNESS Overview

Introduction to OpenNESS

OpenNESS is an edge computing software toolkit that enables highly optimized and performant edge platforms to on-board and manage applications and network functions with cloud-like agility across any type of network.

The toolkit includes a variety of Building Blocks that enable you to build different types of Converged Edge platforms that combine IT (Information Technology), OT (Operational Technology) and CT (Communications Technology).

OpenNESS can help speed up the development of Edges such as:

Cloud Native RAN with Apps
5G distributed UPF with Apps
uCPE/SD-WAN with Apps
AI/vision inferencing apps with MEC
Media apps with MEC

OpenNESS is a Certified Kubernetes* offering. See the CNCF Software Conformance program for details.

Why consider OpenNESS

In the era of 5G, as the cloud architectures start to disaggregate, various locations on the Telco edge start to become prime candidates for compute workloads that are capable of delivering a new set of KPIs for a new breed of apps and services. These locations include the On-prem edge (located typically in an enterprise), the Access Edge (located at or close to a 5G basestation), the Near Edge (the next aggregation point hosting a distributed UPF) and the Regional Data Center (hosting a Next Gen Central Office with wireless/wireline convergence).

As the industry seeks to settle on a consistent cloud native platform approach capable of extending across these edge locations, lowering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) becomes paramount. However a number challenges need to be overcome to achieve this vision:

Deliver platform consistency and scalability across diverse edge location requirements
Optimize cloud native frameworks to meet stringent edge KPIs and simplify network complexity
Leverage a broad ecosystem and evolving standards for edge computing

OpenNESS brings together the best of breed cloud native frameworks to build a horizontal edge computing platform to address these challenges.

Benefits of OpenNESS

Edge Performant & Optimized:

Data plane acceleration, throughput, real-time optimizations for low latency, accelerators for crypto, AI, & Media, telemetry & resource management, Edge native power, security, performance/footprint optimizations, Cloud Native containers & microservices based, seamless and frictionless connectivity

Multi-Access Edge Networking:

3GPP & ETSI MEC based 5G/4G/WiFi capabilities
Complies with Industry Standards (3GPP, CNCF, ORAN, ETSI)

Ease of Use, Consumability & Time to Market (TTM)

Multi-location, Multi-Access, Multi-Cloud
Delivered via use case specific Reference Architectures for ease of consumption and to accelerate TTM
Easy to consume Intel silicon features, integrated set of components (networking, AI, media, vertical use cases), significantly reduce development time, ability to fill gaps in partner/customer IP portfolio

Building Blocks

OpenNESS is composed of a set of Building Blocks, each intended to offer a set of capabilities for edge solutions.

Building Block	Summary
Multi-Access Networking	3GPP Network function microservices enabling deployment of an edge cloud in a 5G network
Edge Multi-Cluster Orchestration	Manage CNFs and applications across massively distributed edge Kubernetes* clusters, placement algorithms based on platform awareness/SLA/cost, multi-cluster service mesh automation
Edge Aware Service Mesh	Enhancements for high performance, reduced resource utilization, security and automation
Edge WAN Overlay	Highly optimized and secure WAN overlay implementation, providing abstraction of multiple edge & cloud provider networks as a uniform network, traffic sanitization, and edge aware SD-WAN
Confidential Computing	Protecting Data In Use at the edge, IP protection in multi tenant hosted environments
Resource Management	Kubernetes* extensions for Node Feature Discovery, NUMA awareness, Core Pinning, Resource Management Daemon, Topology Management
Data plane CNI	Optimized dataplanes and CNIs for various edge use cases: OVN, eBPF, SRIOV
Accelerators	Kubernetes* operators and device plugins for VPU, GPU, FPGA
Telemetry and Monitoring	Platform and application level telemetry leveraging industry standard frameworks
Green Edge	Modular microservices and Kubernetes* enhancements to manage different power profiles, events and scheduling, and detecting hotspots when deploying services

Distributions

OpenNESS is released as two distributions:

OpenNESS : A full open-source distribution of OpenNESS
Intel® Distribution of OpenNESS : A licensed distribution from Intel that includes all the features in OpenNESS along with additional microservices, Kubernetes* extensions, enhancements, and optimizations for Intel® architecture.

The Intel Distribution of OpenNESS requires a secure login to the OpenNESS GitHub repository. For access to the Intel Distribution of OpenNESS, contact your Intel support representative.

Consumption Models

OpenNESS can be consumed as a whole or as individual building blocks. Whether you are an infrastructure developer or an app developer, if you are moving your business to the Edge, you may benefit from utilizing OpenNESS in your next project.

Building Blocks

You can explore the various building blocks packaged as Helm Charts and Kubernetes* Operators via the OpenNESS github project.

Converged Edge Reference Architectures (CERA)

CERA is a set of pre-integrated and readily deployable HW/SW Reference Architectures powered by OpenNESS to significantly accelerate Edge Platform Development, available via the OpenNESS github project.

Cloud Devkits

Software toolkits to easily deploy an OpenNESS cluster in a cloud environment such as Azure Cloud, available via the OpenNESS github project.

Converged Edge Insights

Ready to deploy software packages available via the Intel® Edge Software Hub, comes with use case specific reference implementations to kick start your next pathfinding effort for the Edge.

Next explore the OpenNESS Architecture.