Arista Networks

Core Architecture and State-Sharing Model

EOS is a networking stack built on an unmodified Linux kernel. Its design philosophy is a multi-process state-sharing architecture that completely separates state information from operational processes, unlike legacy operating systems that rely on monolithic kernels with fate-sharing code paths.

Protocol processing, security functions, and hardware drivers run entirely in the user address space as independent processes called agents. The center of this architecture is an in-memory database, SysDB, that governs system state via a streamlined publish/subscribe model:

State Decoupling: Agents never communicate directly with one another. Instead, they publish state changes to the central database, which automatically streams asynchronous notifications to any agents subscribed to those specific state types.

Software Fault Containment: Because services are strictly isolated in user space, a software defect or crash in one agent does not trigger a full system failure.

Stateful Restarts: If an agent restarts, it instantly re-subscribes to the central database and picks up exactly where it left off, achieving sub-50ms fault recovery and fast network convergence without rebuilding its state from scratch.

High Availability and Hitless Upgrades

Built explicitly for mission-critical production environments, EOS delivers high availability through its design:

Hitless Software Patches: Operators can apply hotfixes, often for security vulnerability patches, to an individual process level in real-time. The targeted agent restarts cleanly without impacting other system processes or disturbing the underlying data forwarding plane.

Smart System Upgrades (SSU): EOS supports hitless full-image upgrades. By leveraging accelerated software restarts, EOS upgrades the entire operating system image while maintaining continuous packet forwarding, helping to eliminate the need for planned downtime.

Evolution to Network-Wide State: Sysdb and NetDL

Device-level state sharing has historically been governed by SysDB, Arista's multi-process state repository present in every EOS instance. Modern EOS infrastructure expands this foundation into a Network Data Lake (NetDL). NetDL extends the EOS architecture beyond a single switch, centralizing and streaming device-level and network-wide states in real-time to a centralized repository. This functions as a network-wide software foundation for comprehensive visibility and predictive analytics, and serves as the basis for centralized management applications like Arista CloudVision.

Programmability and Modern NetDevOps

The pure Linux foundation of EOS allows the deployment of native Linux tools directly on the switch alongside modern DevOps frameworks. To support modern NetDevOps pipelines—treating network infrastructure as code—EOS offers an extensive programmability toolset:

eAPI (External API): A JSON-RPC based interface that allows operators to execute CLI commands remotely and retrieve outputs as structured JSON key-value pairs, eliminating brittle legacy screen-scraping methods.

EOS SDK: A native software development kit enabling operators to write custom, high-performance C++ or Python applications that run natively on the switch with direct programmatic access to the underlying hardware forwarding tables.

Modern Telemetry: Operating via open standards (like OpenConfig and gRPC), EOS continuously streams real-time system states directly to central monitoring fabrics like CloudVision for granular, historic forensic analysis.

7800R4 and 7800R3 Series

High-performance modular routing and AI networking platforms designed for hyperscale cloud, AI, service provider, and large enterprise deployments. The 7800R family delivers scalable 400G and 800G Ethernet connectivity, advanced routing capabilities, deep buffering, and high-density spine architectures for next-generation AI clusters and data center fabrics.

7700R4 Series

Distributed Etherlink™ switching platforms optimized for large-scale AI networks. The 7700R4 family enables ultra-high-bandwidth AI cluster interconnects with support for 400G and 800G Ethernet, low-latency transport, and scalable AI fabric architectures.

7500R3 Series

Modular universal spine and routing systems providing deep-buffer performance, large routing tables, and cloud-scale resiliency. Designed for data center, cloud, and service provider networks requiring high-performance routing and switching at scale.

7388X5 Series

Compact modular spine switches delivering high-density 400GbE connectivity for modern data center and AI network architectures. The platform combines scalability, operational efficiency, and investment protection for evolving cloud infrastructures.

7280R4 and 7280R3 Series

Universal leaf, spine, and routing platforms featuring deep-buffer Virtual Output Queuing (VOQ) architecture. Available in multiple fixed-form-factor configurations supporting 10GbE through 400GbE interfaces, these systems are widely deployed in cloud, enterprise, and service provider environments.

7060X6 & XE7 Series

High-density data center switches supporting 100GbE, 400GbE, 800GbE and 1.6Tbps Ethernet connectivity. Designed for AI/ML workloads, cloud-scale applications, and next-generation data center fabrics.

7060X5, 7060X4, and 7050X Series

Fixed-configuration leaf and spine switches providing high-performance Ethernet connectivity from 10GbE through 400GbE. These platforms offer low latency, high port density, and flexible deployment options for enterprise and cloud data centers.

720XP, 722XPM, 720D, and 710P Campus Series

Enterprise access switches delivering multi-gigabit Ethernet, PoE/PoE++, MACsec encryption, and advanced telemetry capabilities. These systems form the foundation of Arista's Cognitive Campus architecture.

750 Series Modular Campus Switches

High-performance modular campus platforms providing scalable aggregation and core networking services for large enterprise environments, supporting integrated wired and wireless operations.

7130 Series

Ultra-low-latency programmable switching platforms combining FPGA acceleration, Layer 1 switching, packet capture, and advanced market-data processing capabilities. Widely deployed in financial trading, telecommunications, and specialized low-latency environments.

7170 Series

Programmable switching platforms supporting customized packet processing, advanced telemetry, and application-specific networking functions using programmable data plane technologies.

All platforms operate on Arista EOS® (Extensible Operating System), providing a consistent software architecture, automation framework, telemetry, observability, and operational model across data center, campus, WAN, and cloud deployments.

Wireless, Security, Observability, and SD-WAN Solutions

Beyond its Ethernet switching and routing portfolio, Arista provides a comprehensive suite of wireless networking, network security, observability, and software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) solutions. These offerings extend Arista's cloud networking architecture from the data center to the campus, branch, edge, and multi-cloud environments.

Wireless Networking

Arista's Cognitive Wi-Fi portfolio delivers cloud-managed wireless networking for enterprise campuses, branch offices, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and distributed enterprises.

Key capabilities include:

• Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 access points
• Cloud-native wireless management
• AI-driven radio frequency (RF) optimization
• Location services and asset tracking
• User and device analytics
• Seamless integration with wired campus infrastructure
• Automated troubleshooting and network assurance

Arista's wireless architecture provides a unified operational model across wired and wireless networks through centralized management and policy enforcement.

Network Security

Arista's security portfolio is built around a Zero Trust networking model and combines network visibility, behavioral analytics, and threat detection capabilities.

Key security solutions include:

• Network Detection and Response (NDR)
• AI-driven threat detection and anomaly identification
• East-west traffic visibility across campus, data center, and cloud environments
• Device and user behavioral analytics
• Asset discovery and classification
• Network segmentation and micro-segmentation
• Identity-based policy enforcement
• MACsec encryption support across campus and data center networks

Arista's security architecture enables organizations to detect, investigate, and respond to threats while maintaining operational simplicity across distributed environments.

Network Observability and Operations

Arista provides a comprehensive network operations platform through CloudVision®, offering end-to-end visibility, automation, and assurance across data center, campus, cloud, and WAN infrastructures.

Key capabilities include:

• Real-time streaming telemetry
• Network-wide configuration management
• Automated provisioning and change control
• Compliance monitoring and auditing
• Root-cause analysis and troubleshooting
• Application and network performance monitoring
• Capacity planning and predictive analytics
• Network digital twin capabilities for testing and validation
• End-to-end infrastructure observability

CloudVision serves as a centralized management platform that enables consistent operations across physical, virtual, and cloud-based networking environments.

SD-WAN and Secure Edge Networking

Arista's SD-WAN portfolio provides secure connectivity for branch offices, remote users, cloud applications, and distributed enterprise networks.

Key capabilities include:

• Application-aware traffic steering
• Dynamic path selection and optimization
• Multi-cloud connectivity
• Secure branch networking
• Broadband, MPLS, and wireless WAN integration
• Centralized policy management
• WAN performance analytics
• Automated deployment and provisioning
• Integrated security and segmentation

The platform enables organizations to simplify WAN operations while improving application performance and reducing connectivity costs across geographically distributed locations.