Best Web-Based Network Operating Systems (NOS) of 2025

CacheGuard product line is based on a core product called CacheGuard-OS. Once installed on a bare metal or virtual machine, CacheGuard-OS transforms that machine into a powerful network appliance . The resulted appliance can then be implemented as different types of Gateways to Secure & Optimize your network. See below a brief description of all CacheGuard appliances. - Web Gateway: gain control over the Web traffic in your organization & filter unwanted Web traffic in your organization. - UTM (Unified Threat Management) : secure your networks against all kind of threats coming from the internet with a Firewall, an Antivirus at the Gateway, a VPN server and a Filtering proxy. - WAF (Web Application Firewall): block malicious requests on your critical Web applications and protect your business. The WAF integrates OWASP rules with the possibility to design your own custom rules. In addition, an IP reputation based filtering allows you to block IPs listed in real time blacklists. - WAN Optimizer : prioritize your critical network traffic, save your precious bandwidth and get High Availability for your internet access through multiple ISP.

Engineered for the expansive 5G landscape, hyperscale networking software spans from the data center to the core, edge, and multi-cloud environments, providing exceptional scalability and rapid convergence. Its integrated monitoring and analytics engine enhances network visibility and delivers real-time intelligence, supplemented by predictive analytics and actionable insights for informed decision-making. You can deploy ACE on your current infrastructure from any location, resulting in reduced operational costs through quicker onboarding processes and enhanced reliability. Complying fully with open standards, this software enables network operators to seamlessly integrate with third-party automation and orchestration tools. The ACE platform features a three-layer architecture that is adaptable and scalable, facilitating connections among enterprise data centers and service or cloud provider infrastructures. As the first independent network operating system designed for internet-scale use, it boasts a scale-out route reflector with unmatched convergence times. This platform equips your network with actionable intelligence in real time and provides the adaptability needed to meet future demands. With its innovative design, ACE ensures that your network remains capable of evolving alongside technological advancements.

NVIDIA® Onyx® provides an innovative approach to flexibility and scalability tailored for the next generation of data centers. This platform features seamless turnkey integrations with leading hyperconverged and software-defined storage solutions, enhancing operational efficiency. Equipped with a robust layer-3 protocol stack, integrated monitoring tools, and high-availability features, Onyx serves as an excellent network operating system for both enterprise and cloud environments. Users can effortlessly run their custom containerized applications alongside NVIDIA Onyx, effectively eliminating the reliance on bespoke servers and integrating solutions directly into the networking framework. Its strong compatibility with popular hyper-converged infrastructures and software-defined storage solutions further reinforces its utility. Onyx also retains the essence of a classic network operating system, offering a traditional command-line interface (CLI) for ease of use. A single-line command simplifies the configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of remote direct-memory access over converged Ethernet (RoCE), while comprehensive support for containerized applications allows full access to the software development kit (SDK). This combination of features positions NVIDIA Onyx as a cutting-edge choice for modern data center needs.

Cisco NX-OS is a powerful operating system designed for data centers, focusing on improving network agility, scalability, and security. Its adaptable architecture accommodates advanced technologies like Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) paired with Ethernet VPN (EVPN), which facilitates effortless scalability and effective traffic handling. The platform streamlines network management and operations through rapid provisioning and comprehensive oversight, supported by the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) and open APIs that promote automation. Enhanced security measures include end-to-end network segmentation and robust encryption protocols such as MACsec and RADsec, which safeguard data integrity and privacy. Furthermore, Cisco NX-OS is fine-tuned for high-performance applications, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, boasting non-blocking networks and ultra-low latency switches designed to manage intensive workloads efficiently. This makes it an ideal choice for organizations seeking to optimize their data center operations while maintaining top-tier security and performance.

The DANOS-Vyatta edition of the network operating system (NOS) is aligned with the objectives of the Open Compute Project to provide a cell site gateway router (CSGR) solution. As mobile network operators shift from older technologies to embrace 5G RAN advancements, the CSGR is specifically tailored to meet the evolving demands of their backhaul transport needs. Built on the DANOS open-source framework, the DANOS-Vyatta edition offers a production-ready, carrier-grade, and highly functional NOS that fulfills the critical requirements for performance and dependability in a carrier environment. Notable features of the DANOS-Vyatta edition include an architecture designed for abstraction, featuring clean APIs that enhance development flexibility, troubleshooting capabilities, and support for various white box hardware. Additionally, the application layer integrates routing functions and supporting processes, providing standard APIs and a user-friendly CLI interface that allows operators and management tools to easily interact with the NOS, thereby streamlining automation and orchestration processes. This comprehensive design not only enhances operational efficiency but also fosters a more agile environment for network management.

Introducing a streamlined, contemporary, and reliable network operating system designed to enhance operational efficiency. The newly revitalized Cisco IOS XR Software simplifies network management with its modernized architecture, featuring improved modularity, a refined networking stack, and cloud-optimized automation that facilitates straightforward network programming. Empower your team's capabilities by leveraging enhanced insights, superior performance, and fortified security, allowing you to minimize troubleshooting efforts and concentrate on achieving business objectives. The IOS XR is engineered to utilize less memory, ensures quicker boot times, and seamlessly integrates with both core and access-level devices, all thanks to its modular design. This allows engineers to dedicate their efforts to tasks that drive revenue while benefiting from a unified operating system throughout the network. In addition to these features, advanced security measures are in place to guard against hardware and firmware vulnerabilities. Safeguard your systems from potential threats and bugs with cutting-edge signing technology and multiple runtime protections, including Integrated Measurement Architecture (IMA), ensuring a robust defense against malicious entities. This comprehensive approach not only enhances security but also fosters a more resilient network environment.

Cisco IOS XE stands as a flexible, contemporary, and modular operating system that powers a variety of Cisco's enterprise networking equipment, such as routers, switches, and wireless controllers. With a foundation rooted in Linux architecture, IOS XE is equipped with advanced capabilities in programmability, scalability, and security to cater to the needs of dynamic network settings. It boasts an array of features that include automation via APIs, the ability to host applications, and compatibility with software-defined networking (SDN), allowing businesses to swiftly adjust to changing technological landscapes. Additionally, IOS XE supports virtualization and multi-core processing, which guarantees high performance and reliability while also streamlining management through user-friendly tools and centralized oversight. This combination of features not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions it as an optimal solution for enterprises that aim for strong, future-proof networking infrastructures. Ultimately, organizations can leverage IOS XE to stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape.