Hardware Nation
Hardware Nation is a privately held open networking solutions integrator based in Buford, Georgia, selling white-box switches, disaggregated routers, open-source NOS deployments (SONiC, Cumulus, OcNOS), and professional services to data center, telecom, enterprise, and government customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersDuluth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hardware Nation does
Hardware Nation LLC is a privately held, Georgia-incorporated open networking solutions provider founded in 2006 and operating from Buford, GA with 11–50 employees. The company engineers, sources, and supports disaggregated network infrastructure for data center operators, telecom and ISP service providers, enterprises, and government and education customers seeking to break away from proprietary networking vendors such as Cisco and Arista. Its core technology offering centers on decoupling hardware from software through white-box switches, aggregation and disaggregated routers, and a portfolio of open network operating systems including SONiC, NVIDIA Cumulus Linux, IP Infusion OcNOS, and Pica8, layered with cybersecurity and SASE/ZTNA solution bundles from Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, and Cato Networks.
Hardware Nation monetizes through three streams: hardware resale (switches, routers, servers, storage, NICs, PDUs, rack equipment, UPS), commercial NOS licensing and open-source NOS deployment support, and professional services covering solution design, configuration, deployment, and ongoing management. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contracts and no public list prices; sales are conducted through account executives, bulk quote requests, and an e-commerce storefront, with global shipping via FedEx, DHL, and UPS subject to export restrictions.
The business model is a value-added reseller and solutions integrator rather than an original equipment manufacturer — there is no proprietary silicon, no disclosed patents, and no in-house research output. Competitive differentiation rests on multi-vendor partnerships (Edge-Core, NVIDIA/Mellanox, UfiSpace, Arista, Juniper, IP Infusion, Pica8, Aviz Networks), five-plus years of open networking implementation experience, and an enterprise sales motion supported by content marketing and technical thought leadership. The firm carries no disclosed external funding, operates as a founder/management-owned LLC, and has not disclosed revenue, headcount growth, or ownership changes.
Hardware Nation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hardware Nation
- Legal name
- Hardware Nation LLC
- Website
- https://hardwarenation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hardware Nation is a privately held open networking solutions integrator based in Buford, Georgia, selling white-box switches, disaggregated routers, open-source NOS deployments (SONiC, Cumulus, OcNOS), and professional services to data center, telecom, enterprise, and government customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hardware Nation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Open Networking Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Hardware Merchant Wholesalers (42371)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hyperscale/OEM & Open Compute (OCP) Server Platforms (HDACABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Embedded & Industrial Network Interfaces (PCIe/M.2/SOM/SoC NICs) (HDAFAEAI)
Keywords
Where Hardware Nation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duluth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hardware Nation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of networking hardware including white-box switches, aggregation routers, disaggregated routers, network switches, routers, cables, network modules, wireless routers, servers, storage arrays, barebone systems, HDDs/SSDs, NICs, PDUs, rack equipment, and UPS systems.
- Network Operating System Software: Sale/licensing of network operating systems (NOS) including commercial NOS options like IP Infusion OcNOS and support services for open-source SONiC.
- Professional Services: Engineering, consulting, implementation, and support services including solution design, configuration, deployment, and ongoing management of networking solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for enterprise customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hardware Nation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hardware Nation is a value-added reseller and solutions integrator that sells open networking hardware (white-box switches, aggregation and disaggregated routers), enterprise networking equipment, and complementary data center infrastructure. It bundles these products with engineering, sourcing, configuration, deployment, and managed support services for open networking and SONiC-based deployments. The company's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with an e-commerce storefront and bulk-quote request system.
Product overview
Hardware Nation is an open networking solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of white-box/disaggregated networking products and enterprise infrastructure solutions. The core offering centers on open networking solutions that decouple hardware and software, including White Box Switches, Aggregation Routers, Disaggregated Routers, and Open NOS products. The company also provides full enterprise networking equipment (switches, routers, cables, modules, wireless routers) and infrastructure products (servers, storage arrays, HDDs/SSDs, NICs, PDUs, rack equipment, UPS). Their solutions span Open Networking, Network Transformation, Enterprise Infrastructure, Carrier Access Networking, Cloud Strategy, Hyperconverged Infrastructure, ZTNA, Secure SD-WAN, SASE, and Cybersecurity. Hardware Nation operates as a value-added reseller and solutions integrator, partnering with major brands including Edge-Core, NVIDIA/Mellanox, UfiSpace, SONiC, Arista Networks, Fortinet, Juniper, Palo Alto Networks, and Cato Networks to deliver end-to-end solutions for data center, service provider, enterprise, and government/education customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- White Box Switches Network switches built with off-the-shelf silicon components that decouple hardware from software, enabling organizations to select their own network operating system and avoid proprietary vendor lock-in. Targeted at data center and enterprise customers seeking flexible, cost-effective switching.
- Aggregation Routers High-capacity routers positioned in the network backbone to handle significant traffic loads at high speeds in medium to large deployments. Targeted at enterprise and service provider networks needing robust aggregation routing.
- Disaggregated Routers Routers that separate hardware and software so organizations can mix and match components from different vendors and customize networks to their specific requirements. Aimed at customers seeking flexibility beyond traditional integrated routing platforms.
- Open Network Operating Systems (NOS) Open-source network operating systems that run on white-box switches and provide routing, switching, and management functionalities with customization flexibility. Bundled with Hardware Nation's open networking solutions for data center and enterprise customers.
- Enterprise Network Switches Enterprise-grade network switches for organizational networking needs, sourced from Hardware Nation's partner brands. Sold alongside engineering and support services for enterprise customers.
- Enterprise Routers and Gateways Enterprise networking routers and gateways for connecting networks and managing traffic, sourced from partner brands. Targeted at enterprise and service provider customers.
- Networking Cables and Connectors Networking cables and connectors for enterprise connectivity requirements, sold as part of Hardware Nation's networking product catalog.
- Network Modules Expansion modules and network interface cards for enterprise networking equipment, available alongside Hardware Nation's switches and routers.
- Wireless Routers Enterprise wireless routers for wireless network connectivity in office and branch environments.
- Enterprise Servers Enterprise servers for data center and infrastructure deployments, sourced through Hardware Nation's partner ecosystem.
- Storage Arrays Storage arrays and server solutions for enterprise data storage requirements, sold through Hardware Nation's infrastructure portfolio.
- Barebone Systems Barebone system configurations for customized infrastructure builds in data center and enterprise environments.
- HDDs and SSDs Hard disk drives and solid-state drives for enterprise storage solutions, sold as part of Hardware Nation's infrastructure catalog.
- Network Interface Cards (NICs) Network interface cards for server and network connectivity, supporting high-speed data center and enterprise networking deployments.
- Power Distribution Units (PDUs) Power distribution units for managing power delivery to networking and IT equipment in data center environments.
- Rack Equipment Equipment for server rack installations and data center infrastructure, supporting open networking and enterprise deployments.
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) Uninterruptible power supplies for protecting networking and IT equipment from power outages.
- Open Networking Solutions Comprehensive open networking solutions service that helps organizations adopt white-box and disaggregated networking to boost agility, efficiency, and reduce total cost of ownership. Includes discovery, design, sourcing, configuration, and deployment support.
- Network Transformation Services End-to-end services designed to modernize network infrastructure, enhance performance and security, and streamline operations for organizations transitioning from traditional to open networking.
- Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Customized enterprise networking solutions for data centers delivering performance, scalability, and security, leveraging Hardware Nation's engineering and sourcing capabilities.
- Carrier Access Networking Solutions Open networking solutions for 5G, edge, and cloud deployments targeting service providers and ISPs. Includes design, sourcing, and deployment of disaggregated routing platforms.
- Cloud Strategy Services Cloud integration services that help organizations build a robust cloud strategy leveraging the latest networking and security technologies for efficiency and innovation.
- Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) Solutions Software-defined integrated solution combining computing, storage, networking, and virtualization into a single scalable platform, delivered with Hardware Nation's engineering and sourcing services.
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Solutions Zero Trust Network Access solutions securing remote and mobile workforces and protecting against cyber threats, delivered as part of Hardware Nation's security services portfolio.
- Secure SD-WAN Solutions Virtual wide area network technology providing secure and optimized connectivity to cloud and on-premises applications, delivered as a managed solution.
- SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) Solutions Cloud-based networking and security framework integrating SD-WAN, SSE, FWaaS, CASB, and ZTNA into a single cloud-delivered solution, delivered in partnership with Cato Networks and others.
- Cybersecurity Solutions Comprehensive zero-trust security strategy solutions including next-generation firewalls, network security, endpoint security, and security assessment services delivered with partner technologies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Better availability with shorter lead times compared to traditional networking vendors like Cisco and Arista where one-year lead times are still common
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hardware Nation
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hardware Nation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hardware Nation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and major.
- Aviz NetworksstrategicStrategic partnership announced April 18, 2024 between Hardware Nation and Aviz Networks to enhance SONiC adoption and deployment. Aviz ONES is a modular network management and support solution built for seamless transition to SONiC and other NOSes. This partnership addresses the need for commercial support for open-source NOS deployments.
- Edge-Core NetworkscoreEdge-Core Networks is a leading provider of open networking hardware. Hardware Nation partners with Edge-Core to offer white-box switches and disaggregated networking solutions. Edge-Core has released hardened versions of SONiC that are more stable on their hardware platforms.
- NVIDIA (Mellanox)coreNVIDIA (through Mellanox acquisition) provides networking solutions including Spectrum switches and NVLink technology. Hardware Nation offers NVIDIA networking products and is a partner in their ecosystem.
- SONiC (Open Source)coreSONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) is an open-source network operating system hosted under LF Networking. Top contributors include Microsoft, Facebook, Arista, Google, Intel, NVIDIA, Alibaba, and Cisco. Hardware Nation supports SONiC deployments.
- Arista NetworkscoreArista Networks is an industry leader in cognitive cloud networking solutions. Hardware Nation offers Arista switches, optics, and cables, and provides support for deploying Arista technologies.
- IP InfusioncoreIP Infusion provides OcNOS (Open Compute Network Operating System), a versatile open network operating system designed to run on white box/bare metal infrastructure. Hardware Nation is a partner offering IP Infusion solutions.
- Pica8corePica8 is a provider of open network operating systems. Hardware Nation partners with Pica8 to offer their NOS solutions for open networking deployments.
- UfiSpacemajorUfiSpace is a brand partner providing disaggregated networking hardware. Hardware Nation offers UfiSpace products as part of their open networking solutions.
- FortinetmajorFortinet provides cybersecurity solutions including firewalls and secure SD-WAN. Hardware Nation offers Fortinet products as part of their security solutions portfolio.
- Juniper NetworksmajorJuniper Networks is a networking equipment vendor. Hardware Nation offers Juniper products including switches and routers.
- Cato NetworkscoreCato Networks created the world's first SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) cloud-based platform. Hardware Nation partners with Cato to help customers implement SASE solutions for networking and security convergence.
- Palo Alto NetworkscorePalo Alto Networks is a global cybersecurity leader providing Prisma SASE, next-generation firewalls, and cloud-delivered security services. Hardware Nation offers Palo Alto products including modules, optics, and power cords.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hardware Nation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arista Networks: Arista Networks is a dominant incumbent in data-center switching and is both a Hardware Nation partner (reselling Arista switches/optics) and a competitive incumbent. Its cognitive cloud networking portfolio (10–400G) covers a meaningful share of the buyers Hardware Nation targets.
- Insight Enterprises: Insight Enterprises is a Fortune 500 IT solutions integrator with deep networking, data center, and cloud practices. It competes with Hardware Nation for mid-market and enterprise infrastructure deals as a broad-line VAR with substantially larger scale.
- Connection (PC Connection): Connection is an established US IT VAR serving enterprise, public-sector, and SMB buyers with networking, server, and storage hardware plus configuration services. It is comparable as a multi-vendor networking and infrastructure distributor with adjacent services depth.
- SHI International: SHI International is a large privately held IT solutions provider offering hardware, software, and services across networking and infrastructure. It competes for the same enterprise networking refresh budgets with much greater headcount and vendor breadth.
- CDW Corporation: CDW is one of the largest US IT value-added resellers, distributing enterprise networking, server, and storage hardware alongside services. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise infrastructure refresh budgets that Hardware Nation addresses.
Direct peers
- IP Infusion: IP Infusion provides OcNOS and other carrier-grade open network operating systems that run on white-box hardware. It is both a partner (reselling IP Infusion NOS) and a peer in delivering open-networking solutions to service providers and enterprises.
- Pica8: Pica8 provides an open network operating system for white-box switches with a focus on enterprise and education deployments. Like Hardware Nation, it sells through a mix of direct and partner channels into the same open-networking buyer segments.
- ProLabs: ProLabs is a specialist distributor of networking transceivers, optics, cables, and compatible networking components. It overlaps with Hardware Nation's components and connectivity product line (NICs, modules, cables) and serves similar enterprise buyers.
- Aviz Networks: Aviz Networks provides commercial support, orchestration, and management solutions for SONiC and other open network operating systems. It is directly comparable as both a peer and as Hardware Nation's April 2024 strategic partner targeting the same SONiC-services market.
- Edgecore Networks: Edgecore Networks is a leading OEM of white-box and disaggregated networking hardware. It is a Hardware Nation distribution partner but also a channel through which similar open-networking solutions are sold, making it the closest product peer for the hardware line.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hardware Nation social profiles
Digital presenceHardware Nation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hardware Nation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hardware Nation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hardware Nation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hardware Nation
What does Hardware Nation do?
Hardware Nation is a value-added reseller and solutions integrator that sells open networking hardware (white-box switches, aggregation and disaggregated routers), enterprise networking equipment, and complementary data center infrastructure. It bundles these products with engineering, sourcing, configuration, deployment, and managed support services for open networking and SONiC-based deployments. The company's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with an e-commerce storefront and bulk-quote request system.
Is Hardware Nation a public or private company?
Hardware Nation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hardware Nation founded?
Hardware Nation was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hardware Nation based?
Hardware Nation is headquartered in Duluth, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hardware Nation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are network Operating System Software and professional Services.
Who are Hardware Nation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Arista Networks, Insight Enterprises, Connection (PC Connection), SHI International and CDW Corporation. Direct peers are IP Infusion, Pica8, ProLabs, Aviz Networks and Edgecore Networks.
Does Hardware Nation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hardware Nation.
What industry is Hardware Nation in?
Hardware Nation's product category is Open Networking Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACABAI, Hyperscale/OEM & Open Compute (OCP) Server Platforms, with a secondary code of HDAFAEAI, Embedded & Industrial Network Interfaces (PCIe/M.2/SOM/SoC NICs). Its NAICS code is 42371 and its SIC code is 5045.