What OpenDaylight does

OpenDaylight is an open-source Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller platform governed by The Linux Foundation as part of LF Networking. Founded in 2013, the platform provides model-driven, programmable network control and monitoring at carrier scale, with production deployments serving over 1 billion network subscribers worldwide. Its core architecture centers on the MD-SAL (Model-Driven Service Abstraction Layer), which separates applications from southbound protocols via YANG-modeled contracts, auto-generating RESTCONF APIs and enabling protocol-agnostic management across OpenFlow, NETCONF, BGP-LS, PCEP, OVSDB, LISP, SNMP, and gNMI.

The platform is composed of over 50 plugin projects spanning protocol plugins, data models, core infrastructure, and applications such as TransportPCE (optical transport with OpenROADM). Built-in clustering with sharded data stores and leader-based consensus enables horizontal scaling, with production deployments managing thousands of network devices at sub-second convergence. The current release, Vanadium (April 2026), adds native gNMI support for AI/ML pipeline integration with modern fabrics like SONiC; the prior stable Titanium release remains supported. Core contributors include Ericsson (since 2013), PANTHEON.tech (largest contributor), Orange, NVIDIA, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.

OpenDaylight operates under a non-commercial open-source model: the software is freely downloadable with no licensing fees, and the project is sustained through Linux Foundation member contributions and community participation. Distribution occurs via direct downloads (Nexus), Docker Hub, GitHub, and embedded OEM channels through ecosystem members like Ericsson and PANTHEON.tech. The project serves telecom carriers, optical transport operators, data center fabric operators, and enterprises managing heterogeneous multi-vendor networks, with native integration into ONAP for service orchestration.

Name

OpenDaylight

Legal name

OpenDaylight

Website

https://opendaylight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OpenDaylight is an open-source SDN controller under The Linux Foundation providing model-driven, programmable network control for telecom carriers, optical transport operators, and data center fabric operators. Its MD-SAL architecture and YANG-based APIs enable vendor-neutral multi-protocol network management at carrier scale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SDN Controller Platform

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

SDN Controllers & Network Orchestration (HDABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SDN Controllers & Network Automation/Orchestration (MANO, ZTP, Policy) (HDAIAIAF), Private Cloud Networking & SDN/NFV Management (HDABABAK), SDN & Controller-Based Management (Campus/DC Fabrics) (HDAFAMAD)

Keywords

• Open source SDN controller
• Software-defined networking
• Network automation platform
• YANG model networking
• Carrier network orchestration

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Open Source Platform (No Direct Revenue): OpenDaylight is a free, open-source SDN controller platform. As a Linux Foundation project, it does not generate direct revenue from software licensing. The project is sustained through member contributions, community participation, and integration within commercial products from contributing organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OpenDaylight is an open source Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller platform hosted under The Linux Foundation's LF Networking initiative. It provides a modular, extensible framework for building network applications and orchestrating heterogeneous network devices, enabling programmable, centralized network management for telecom carriers, enterprises, and data center operators.

Product overview

OpenDaylight is an open source SDN (Software-Defined Networking) controller platform, widely deployed at carrier scale with over 1 billion network subscribers. The platform uses a modular, layered architecture built on YANG-model-driven principles. The core offering is the OpenDaylight Controller with its MD-SAL (Model-Driven Service Abstraction Layer) that separates applications from southbound protocols. The platform includes over 50 plugin projects covering protocol plugins (NETCONF, OpenFlow, OVSDB, BGP, PCEP, LISP), data models (YANG Tools), core infrastructure (Controller Core, Clustering), and applications (TransportPCE). Northbound REST APIs expose network state via RESTCONF, while southbound plugins translate intent into device-level operations across physical and virtual network infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OpenDaylight Platform An open-source Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller platform hosted under The Linux Foundation's LF Networking initiative, providing modular infrastructure for programmable network management, multi-protocol southbound integration, and network application development for telecom carriers, enterprises, and data center operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1B+ subscribers served on production networks worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• LF Networking (Linux Foundation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018OpenDaylight is part of LF Networking since 2018, a Linux Foundation project providing governance, infrastructure, and ecosystem support. LF Networking coordinates multiple SDN/NFV projects including ONAP, with shared technical charter and member governance.
• ONAP (Open Network Automation Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationOpenDaylight serves as the SDN controller within ONAP's network automation platform, providing NETCONF-based device management and service orchestration for telecom operators globally.
• PANTHEON.techcoreTechnology or IntegrationLargest contributor to OpenDaylight, providing carrier-grade transport network automation solutions including TransportPCE development and multi-vendor optical provisioning.
• OrangecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor contributor to OpenDaylight's TransportPCE project, leveraging the platform for vendor-neutral optical path provisioning with OpenROADM support.
• EricssoncoreTechnology or IntegrationCore contributor since 2013, utilizing OpenDaylight's clustering and horizontal scalability for managing thousands of network devices in carrier production environments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Anuta Networks: Commercial multi-vendor network orchestration and service automation platform; overlaps with OpenDaylight's northbound orchestration role in carrier and enterprise networks.
• Itential: Network automation orchestration platform that integrates with SDN controllers (including OpenDaylight) but also offers turnkey multi-domain automation, competing for orchestration budget ODL currently fills.
• Faucet SDN: Open source OpenFlow-based SDN controller focused on campus networks; an alternative to OpenDaylight for smaller, OpenFlow-centric deployments.
• Sedona Systems: Vendor specializing in multi-vendor optical transport automation. Competes with ODL's TransportPCE/OpenROADM-based optical orchestration solution in carrier accounts.
• Tungsten Fabric: Open source SDN overlay (formerly OpenContrail) targeting cloud and data center virtualization, partially overlapping with OpenDaylight's overlay/underlay management capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Juniper Apstra: Juniper's intent-based data center networking and automation platform; competes for fabric/overlay SDN use cases where OpenDaylight's OpenFlow/OVSDB plugins are deployed.
• Cisco (Catalyst Center / DNA Center): Cisco's commercial SDN controller and network automation platform that competes against OpenDaylight in enterprise and service-provider accounts, offering bundled hardware/software for campus and data center fabrics where ODL is also positioned.
• Nokia Network Services Platform: Nokia's carrier-grade SDN and network automation suite targeting the same service-provider use cases OpenDaylight solves (multi-vendor transport, MPLS/segment routing), as a commercial alternative with direct vendor support.

Others

• ONAP (Open Network Automation Platform): Sibling Linux Foundation networking project that consumes OpenDaylight as its SDN controller layer; its roadmap directly drives demand for ODL capabilities and is a leading indicator of ODL's strategic relevance in NFV/5G.

Direct peers

• ONOS (Open Network Operating System): Linux Foundation-hosted open source SDN controller that competes head-to-head with OpenDaylight for the same carrier and data center operator workloads. Targets many of the same protocols (OpenFlow, NETCONF, BGP) with a similar community-governance model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/opendaylight
• Xx.com/opendaylightsdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/309147425875291

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenDaylight