Compare the Top Network Operating Systems (NOS) for Cloud as of November 2025

What are Network Operating Systems (NOS) for Cloud?

A Network Operating System (NOS) is specialized software designed to manage and coordinate networked devices, ensuring efficient communication and resource sharing. It provides services such as file and print sharing, network security, and centralized user management, enabling seamless collaboration in a multi-user environment. NOS platforms are integral for managing local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) and support both client-server and peer-to-peer architectures. Commonly used in enterprise environments, they offer robust tools for system administration, fault tolerance, and data backup. By enabling centralized control over network resources, a NOS ensures optimal performance, security, and scalability for networked systems. Compare and read user reviews of the best Network Operating Systems (NOS) for Cloud currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

  • 1
    CacheGuard

    CacheGuard

    CacheGuard Technologies

    CacheGuard-OS transforms a virtual or bare metal machine into a powerful and easy to handle network appliance. It's a Linux based Operating System built from scratch and especially designed to Secure and Optimize the network traffic. Great care has been taken by CacheGuard-OS developers to select the best of the best Open Source technologies to integrate into CacheGuard-OS. The result is a robust and trustworthy solution that can be up and running within minutes. CacheGuard-OS integrates Open Source software such as but not limited to OpenSSL, NetFilter, IProute2, StrongSwan, ClamAV, Apache, ModSecurity, Squid and Open Source developments made by CacheGuard-OS developers.
    Starting Price: $9.99 per month
  • 2
    Arrcus Connected Edge
    Hyperscale networking software engineered for the distributed 5G wave, from the data center to the core to edge to multi-cloud, delivers massive scale and ultra-fast convergence. Integrated monitoring and analytics engine offers deep network visibility and real-time intelligence along with predictive analytics and actionable insights. Run ACE on your existing infrastructure, deploy from anywhere, and reduce your operating expenses with faster onboarding and higher reliability. Fully compliant with open standards and allows network operators to seamlessly integrate with 3rd-party automation and orchestration tools. ACE platform offers a three-layer stack with a flexible, scalable architecture to interconnect enterprise data centers and service/cloud provider infrastructure. The industry's first internet-scale, independent network operating system. Scale-out route reflector with industry-leading convergence times. Actionable real-time intelligence for your network.
  • 3
    NVIDIA Onyx
    NVIDIA® Onyx® delivers a new level of flexibility and scalability to next-generation data centers. Onyx has tight turnkey integrations with popular hyperconverged and software-defined storage solutions. With its robust layer-3 protocol stack, built-in monitoring and visibility tools, and high-availability mechanisms, Onyx is an ideal network operating system for enterprise and cloud data centers. Run your custom containerized applications side by side with NVIDIA Onyx. Eliminate the need for one-off servers and seamlessly shrinkwrap solutions into the networking infrastructure. Strong integration with popular hyper-converged infrastructure and software-defined storage solutions. Classic network operating system with a traditional command-line interface (CLI) Single-line command to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot remote direct-memory access over converged Ethernet (RoCE) Support for containerized applications with complete access to the software development kit (SDK).
  • 4
    Cisco NX-OS
    Cisco NX-OS is a robust data center operating system engineered to enhance network agility, scalability, and security. It offers a flexible architecture that supports technologies like Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) with Ethernet VPN (EVPN), enabling seamless scalability and efficient traffic management. The system simplifies network operations through accelerated provisioning and comprehensive management facilitated by the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC), complemented by open APIs for streamlined automation. Security is bolstered with end-to-end network segmentation and encryption protocols, including MACsec and RADsec, ensuring data integrity and protection. Additionally, Cisco NX-OS is optimized for high-performance tasks such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, featuring non-blocking networks and ultra-low latency switches to effectively handle demanding workloads.
  • 5
    DANOS-Vyatta

    DANOS-Vyatta

    IP Infusion

    DANOS-Vyatta edition NOS is aligned with Open Compute Project in delivering a cell site gateway router (CSGR) use case. As mobile service providers make the transition from legacy technologies toward 5G RAN technologies, the CSGR is designed to address the changing needs of operator’s backhaul transport requirements. Based on the DANOS open source software, DANOS-Vyatta edition is a production-ready, carrier grade, feature-rich network operating system (NOS) that meets the demand for functionality and reliability required in the carrier environment. Highlights of DANOS-Vyatta edition The NOS architecture is designed for abstractions with clean APIs between the layers for development agility, troubleshooting and ease of supporting multiple white boxes. The application layer encompasses all the routing and supporting processes along with the standard APIs and familiar CLI interface for operators and management, automation, orchestration systems to interact with the NOS.
  • 6
    Cisco IOS XR
    A simple, modern, and trustworthy network operating system. Simplify network operations with the new modernized Cisco IOS XR Software. Greater modularity, a simplified networking stack, and cloud-enhanced automation make network programming easy. Unleash your team's potential with better insights, improved performance, and boosted security—so you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time meeting business goals. IOS XR uses less memory, boots faster, and works well with a core or access-level device—all part of a modular design. Let your engineers focus on revenue-generating tasks and streamline their work with a single operating system across the network. Prevent compromises to hardware and firmware with advanced security features. Protect against malicious actors and bugs with a signing technology and multiple runtime defenses, including Integrated Measurement Architecture (IMA).
  • 7
    Cisco IOS XE
    Cisco IOS XE is a versatile, modern, and modular operating system designed to power Cisco's enterprise networking products, including routers, switches, and wireless controllers. Built on a Linux-based architecture, IOS XE offers advanced programmability, scalability, and security to support dynamic network environments. It provides rich features like automation through APIs, application hosting, and support for software-defined networking (SDN), enabling organizations to adapt quickly to evolving technological demands. With its support for virtualization and multi-core processing, IOS XE ensures high performance and reliability while simplifying management through intuitive tools and centralized control. This makes it an ideal choice for enterprises seeking robust, future-ready network solutions.
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