XOS provides a framework for defining a set of declarative models and then using those models to manage a collection of components that have been configured into an operational system. XOS is itself deployed as a set of micro-services, collectively forming a ControlPlane-as-a-Service that:
Serves as a single unifying interface to a collection of backend services, avoiding the management silos that otherwise result from disaggregation. This includes a framework for creating and operating on services across organizational boundaries, across a range of implementations, and across multiple tenants.
Implements end-to-end service chains across a service mesh, supporting visibility and control at the granularity of individual subscribers or flows. This provides a fine-grain means to correlate diagnostic and monitoring information, allocate resources and isolate performance, and distribute/migrate functionality.
XOS is currently being used in three projects:
CORD Controller: XOS is a central part of CORD, providing a coherent service control plane that runs on on top of a mix of disaggregated access technologies, legacy VNFs running in OpenStack VMs, horizontally scalable micro-services running in Kubernetes, and SDN control applications running on ONOS.
Network Edge Mediator (NEM): XOS is being used to provide a mediation layer for SEBA (Software-Enabled Broadband Access), addressing the challenge of how to integrate an edge site with different (and potentially multiple) global orchestrators and legacy OSS/BSS.
End-to-End Service Chains in a Multi-Cloud: XOS is being used to manage end-to-end service chains that span customer premises, edge sites, and commodity clouds.
For additional white papers describing XOS, see the project wiki page.