ALPINE - SONiC Switchstack Simulation Framework for Virtual Network Testing

Learn about ALPINE, a framework for running virtual SONiC network switches, in this technical conference talk presented by Google engineers Sonika Jindal and Bhagat Janarthanan. Explore how ALPINE provides a standard model for instantiating SONiC virtual switches and deploying various topologies while leveraging Kubernetes to build large-scale fabrics across multiple worker nodes. Discover the framework's ability to manage virtual switch lifecycles, including provisioning, initial configuration, and connectivity through Kubernetes container orchestration. Understand how ALPINE enables building and testing near-production topologies in a scalable, reliable, and cost-effective manner, while its integration with CI/CD pipelines delivers low-cost pre-submit test results. Gain insights into how this framework can accelerate the adoption of SONiC-based networks by simplifying vendor development and deployment of SONiC-based products.