- Utilizing open source tech from local universities can boost local economies.
- The networking industry is a promising choice for young professionals, allowing remote work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Martin Winter, founder of the open source software movement NetDef, has said in an exclusive interview with BTW that the industry is not awake to the benefits of open sourced applications, and company execs are missing out. Speaking at the RIPE 87 meeting in Rome recently, Winter said there were benefits to open sourced software that the industry was apparently ignorant of, such as the speed to fix bugs. "Having your own staff who understand the code can be a more cost-effective and quicker solution," he said. "Such staff can often be easily recruited and trained from local universities. This approach can lead to much faster fixes, as the company has its own staff capable of understanding and resolving software problems themselves." In a wide-ranging interview, Winter also suggested that many companies may already be using open source software without realising it, and making a fuller, official transition to non-proprietary software could be more effective. "Many of these companies might already be using open source without realizing it. For instance, our FRRouting is used by a number of white box vendors, the Sonic project, the Dent project, and in devices like the previously Cumulus, now Nvidia, white box switches. It's also utilized in various firewalls. So, it's already widely used." Watch the full interview in the video above, or read it below. Also read: Kai-Fu Lee’s 01.AI hits $1 billion valuation, leads open-source AI models
This could evolve the entire economy and the world itself, leading to much more interesting developments. It’s about being open and trying things out.
Martin Winter
Also read: Meta introduces an open source AI tool-AudioCraft
Interview with Martin Winter, founder of NetDEF
Tell us about your experiences with networking and connectivity, particularly around open source projects.
Martin Winter: I work for a small non-profit company called NetDEF. I’m one of the people who started the FRRouting project. For those not familiar with it, it’s a routing stack that includes all routing protocols like BGP, among others. It’s an open-source project with a large community, used by many commercial applications and vendors. My interest in open source is strong; I previously worked for many years at Cisco, a large vendor. There, I sometimes felt saddened by how end-user feedback wasn’t really taken into account anymore, with companies focusing mainly on profit maximization.
What are the benefits and challenges internationally with adoption of open source solutions?
Winter: I believe that in countries without strong relationships with vendors, it makes more sense to keep the expertise within the country. This involves encouraging local people to learn about, manage, and develop the entire code themselves. I’ve had numerous discussions in different countries about enhancing the use of open-source software. Such an approach has significant advantages for companies, especially if they need a new feature. Rather than relying on an external vendor who might ignore them due to their size or lack of relationship, they can work with local talent, like university graduates, who have the necessary know-how. This way, they can develop required features themselves, keeping financial investments within the country and boosting the local economy. It also provides practical opportunities for computer science students in those countries.
This approach is particularly beneficial in regions like Asia Pacific and Africa, where the cost of standard routers is prohibitively high. Open-source solutions can often be a more affordable alternative. The current challenge is that many companies are hesitant to use open source due to concerns about support and resolution in case of issues. However, it’s interesting to note that many of these companies might already be using open source without realizing it. For instance, our FRRouting is used by a number of white box vendors, the Sonic project, the Dent project, and in devices like the previously Cumulus, now Nvidia, white box switches. It’s also utilized in various firewalls. So, it’s already widely used.
There are other open-source software solutions as well, and the state of open-source technology today is quite robust, even for building high-speed routers with technologies like BPP. Developments like the Sonic project show that having routers with multiple interfaces is no longer a challenge.
How can you improve the industry confidence to use open source technology?
Winter: That’s the hard part. It’s much easier in Europe, where there’s mostly one kind of culture. But in the Asia Pacific or Africa, there are many different cultures that may not listen to each other, may not trust each other, or learn from each other. So it’s more about convincing each country individually to try it. What it normally needs is one company in that country to try it and then potentially talk about the huge cost savings and how much better it cost them. But it’s a bit risky for them, especially if they are the first ones. In many countries, if something goes wrong, people making the decisions fear they may lose their jobs. At the same time, if they purchase from a classic large vendor and something goes wrong, they can usually blame that vendor. It’s not considered their fault. But the same risks exist regardless.
What will change most in the names and numbers industry over the next 5 years?
Winter: What I expect is that it becomes much more commoditized. Large vendors might still focus on building very high-end stuff and might continue to innovate. What I see is not that open source will destroy these companies, but rather it may push them to innovate again. I hope they face real competition, which will make them start to innovate and develop new things. This could evolve the entire economy and the world itself, leading to much more interesting developments. It’s about being open and trying things out. Vendors can’t just dismiss smaller players by saying, ‘You are too small, I ignore you.’ Instead, vendors might realize that ignoring them could lead to these smaller players moving to open source, doing it themselves, and thus losing them as customers. Vendors will have to figure out if ignoring smaller entities is worthwhile.
What role can company shareholders play in this change?
Winter: Shareholders need to understand that support from some large, classic vendors isn’t perfect and that their products often have bugs. If shareholders sometimes talk to the technical people, they’ll learn about the problems in software and other areas, like hardware. While most vendors are quite good at hardware support—quickly replacing a broken box, for instance—software issues are a different story. It’s common for people to wait months or even a year for a fix, maybe because they’re not considered big enough customers, or the vendor doesn’t fully understand the issue, or perhaps it’s not a priority for them. Shareholders need to understand the cost implications of these delays. They should also consider the risks and benefits of having their own staff who understand the code, which can be a more cost-effective and quicker solution. Such staff can often be easily recruited and trained from local universities. This approach can lead to much faster fixes, as the company has its own staff capable of understanding and resolving software problems themselves.
What advice do you have for young people entering this industry?
Winter: The key thing is, I see a lot of people studying in countries where the market for working in this area isn’t easy. Nowadays, there’s a classical hype in universities, especially around artificial intelligence, and many people are moving towards it. However, I’m sometimes dismayed by the limited job opportunities they find, particularly in countries that don’t have significant research in that area.
At the same time, there’s dwindling interest in networking. People often overlook it, thinking of networking as just plumbing, missing out on all the interesting challenges it offers. There’s a lot to explore in this field. Working in network technology is unique because the community is very connected and global. Once you start attending conferences and meeting people, your location becomes irrelevant. As long as you have an internet connection, you can work from anywhere, offering a promising future.This aspect is especially interesting because it means that countries don’t have to lose their talent, and people have the opportunity to stay where their families are, in a comfortable environment, and work from there.
It’s clear that open source software is not just a technical choice; it’s a strategic decision with far-reaching implications. Companies embracing open source can expect a superior service and product, challenging the traditional dynamics of the tech industry. This shift brings an invaluable advantage: the speed of fixes and updates, a crucial factor in today’s fast-paced technological landscape.
Moreover, the utilization of open-source technology from local universities isn’t just about accessing cutting-edge tools; it’s about fueling local economies and fostering a self-reliant tech ecosystem. This approach empowers communities, enabling them to develop their own technological solutions and reduce dependency on external vendors.
For young people eyeing a career in technology, Winter’s should be inspiring. The networking industry, often misconceived as mere ‘plumbing,’ offers a world of opportunities. It’s a field where geographical boundaries dissolve, allowing one to work from anywhere with an internet connection. This freedom, coupled with the excitement of being at the forefront of technological innovation, makes networking a compelling career path for the youth of today.
As we look to the future, the narrative around technology and its development is changing. Open source software stands at the forefront of this transformation, promising a more inclusive, efficient, and interconnected world.
About NetDEF
NetDEF, a pivotal player in the realm of network education and development, embarks on a journey to revolutionize the networking industry. Spearheading the FRRouting project under the Linux Foundation’s umbrella, NetDEF collaborates with notable entities like 128 Technology and Cumulus Networks, aiming to create the finest open-source routing stack. This endeavor reflects an exciting chapter in both NetDEF’s story and the broader narrative of networking technology.
At its core, NetDEF is a 501c3 corporation dedicated to empowering the networking community. Through comprehensive training, rigorous testing, and unwavering support of open-source software, NetDEF establishes itself as a beacon of innovation and education. The foundation’s commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering technological self-reliance resonates deeply with the interviewee’s vision. This alignment underscores the potential of open-source technology to catalyze change, especially in regions like Asia Pacific and Africa, where traditional tech resources are scarce.
This journey, steered by NetDEF, is not just about advancing technology; it’s a mission to enrich and uplift communities through knowledge and self-sufficiency. The ripple effect of this mission promises a future where technology is accessible, and innovation thrives from the grassroots level.
