Introduction
In today’s world of enterprise and service provider networks, having a robust, flexible, and low-cost operating system is essential to ensure the performance and security of the infrastructure. EdgeOS, developed by Ubiquiti Networks, has positioned itself as a Linux-based solution that combines the power of carrier-grade operating systems with an intuitive management interface. This post explores in detail what EdgeOS is, its main features, architecture, use cases, and how it can benefit network administrators and IT professionals.
What is EdgeOS?
EdgeOS is the operating system that powers Ubiquiti’s EdgeRouter and EdgeSwitch series devices. It is based on the Vyatta distribution, which is itself derived from Debian Linux, and provides a full routing environment with support for advanced protocols such as BGP, OSPF, RIP, MPLS, and IPsec/SSL VPN. Unlike the proprietary operating systems of many vendors, EdgeOS offers access to a Cisco Junos-style command-line interface (CLI), making the transition easier for engineers accustomed to those environments.
Key Features
- Advanced Routing: Supports dynamic protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP) and static routes, plus rule-based routing policies.
- Integrated Security: Stateful firewall, IPsec and SSL VPN, basic intrusion detection, and content filtering.
- Quality of Service (QoS): Priority queues, shaping, and policing to optimize voice, video, and data traffic.
- Unified Management: HTML5-based web UI and full CLI, with scripting support via Bash and Python.
- Scalability: From small-office routers to carrier-grade devices capable of handling hundreds of thousands of packets per second.
- Updates and Community: Regular releases, active package repository, and a user community that shares scripts and configuration templates.
Underlying Architecture
EdgeOS runs on a modified Linux kernel, with a control plane that uses Vyatta’s routing suite. The data plane is based on the DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) forwarding plane in the latest models, enabling high performance without relying solely on the general-purpose CPU. The separation between control and data planes improves stability and allows software updates without interrupting forwarding traffic.
Typical Use Cases
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): EdgeRouter routers provide secure WAN connectivity, site-to-site VPN, and bandwidth management at a reduced cost.
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs): The EdgeRouter Pro and EdgeRouter 12 models can act as BRAS or
This post is also available in ESPAÑOL.