CORD adopts a model-based design, which is to say all aspects of operating and managing CORD is mediated by a model-based control plane. XOS is a tool that CORD uses to implement this control plane. For an overview of XOS, see the following white paper: XOS: Modeling-as-a-Service.
XOS has three inter-related aspects, and this section is organized accordingly.
Modeling Framework: XOS defines a modeling framework, which includes both a modeling language (xproto) and a generative toolchain (xosgenx). The abstractions that define CORD's behavior are expressed in xproto, with xosgenx then used to generate code for several elements required to control CORD (including an API that serves the set of models that have been loaded into XOS). Service developers typically write one or more models to on-board their service.
Synchronizer Framework: XOS defines a synchronization framework that actuates the CORD data model. This framework is reponsible for driving the underlying components configured into CORD (for example, services, access devices) towards the desired state. Service developers typically write a synchronizer to on-board their services.
Core Models and Policies: The CORD platform is defined by a core set of xproto models, plus a set of security policies that govern how various principals can act on those models in a multi-tenant environment. Platform developers typically define and evolve the core models and policies, which effectively establishes the foundation on which all services run and are interconnected into service graphs.
