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Three of the four product families from Dell Networking are using the [[Broadcom]] [[Broadcom#Trident+ ASIC|Trident+]] [[ASIC]]s, but the company doesn't use the [[API]]s from Broadcom: the developers at Dell Networking have written their own [[Hardware Abstraction Layer]] so that DNOS 9.x can run on different hardware platforms with minimal impact for the firmware. Currently three of the four DN switch families are based on the Broadcom Trident family (while the 4th - the E-series- run on self-developed ASICs<ref>Architecture description of the [http://www.force10networks.com/whitepapers/pdf/wp_DescESeries.pdf Force10 E-series] platform. Force10, 2006. Retrieved: 3 August 2012</ref>); and two of them are running DNOS 9.x (S- and Z- series) and if the product developers want or need to use different hardware for new products they only need to develop a HAL for that new hardware and the same firmware can run on it. This keeps the company flexible and not dependent on a specific hardware-vendor and can use both 3rd party or self designed ASICs and chipsets.
The underlying OS on which DNOS 9.x, runs, is based on [[NetBSD]] (while the DNOS 6.x runs on a Linux kernel), an implementation which is often used in embedded networking-systems. NetBSD is a very stable, open source, OS running on many different hardware platforms. By choosing for a proven technology with extended TCP functionality built into the core of the OS it reduces time during development of new products or extending the DNOS with new features.<ref>Force10 [http://www.force10networks.com/products/pdf/F10_FTOS.pdf FTOS Datasheet]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, retrieved: 28 January 2012</ref>
===Modular setup===
DNOS 9.x is also modular where different parts of the OS run independent from each other within one switch: if one process would fail the impact on other processes on the switch are limited. This modular setup is also taken to the hardware level in some product-lines where a routing-module has three separate CPUs: one for management, one for L2 and one for L3 processing. This same approach is also used in the newer firmware-families from Cisco like the [[NX-OS]] for the Nexus product-line or the [[IOS XR]] for the high-end routers (the [[Carrier Routing System]]s) from [[Cisco Systems|Cisco]]. (and unlike the original [[IOS]]: processes under IOS aren't isolated from each other). This approach is regarded not only a way to make the firmware more resilient but also increases the security of the switches<ref>Communication Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) on [http://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/its-sti/services/cc/force-networks-v10-eng.html Force10 FTOS 7.8] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819231415/http://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/its-sti/services/cc/force-networks-v10-eng.html |date=2011-08-19 }}</ref><ref>CSEC report on [http://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/documents/services/cc/force-networks-v10-sec-eng.pdf Security Target: Force10 Networks FTOS 7.8] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604142300/http://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/documents/services/cc/force-networks-v10-sec-eng.pdf |date=2013-06-04 }}, published: 17 August 2009, retrieved: 28 January 2012</ref>
==Capabilities==
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==Open Automation==
Under the name OpenAutomation 2.0 Dell Networking switches running DNOS 9.x offers a number of features under this name. These features include:<ref name="oa2">[http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/555/solutions/force10-open-automation?c=us&l=en&s=biz Dell Force10 Open Automation 2.0]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, visited 29 May 2013</ref>
===Smart Scripting===
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===Network Automation===
According to Dell the move to (server and datacenter) virtualisation is one of the most important developments in the IT industry. According to this vendor the industry must prevent that this path leads to getting locked-in into specific vendors due to the use of proprietary technologies. The open automation framework is an open framework that doesn't rely on proprietary solutions<ref name="twp"/><ref>Dell technical specsheet: [http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/Dell_Force10_Open_Automation_Framework_Spec_Sheet.pdf Open Automation Framework] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319150049/http://i.dell.com/sites/doccontent/shared-content/data-sheets/en/Documents/Dell_Force10_Open_Automation_Framework_Spec_Sheet.pdf |date=2013-03-19 }}, downloaded: 29 May 2013</ref>
==Alternative OS==
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