--- title: The power of Software Defined Networking appliances – SDNA description: 'For Mobile World Congress we purchased the cheapest Intel server with 6 ports from the Amazon Store: After installing Snappy Ubuntu Core and working with partners like Microsoft, F5, Dataart, Cybervision, Forgerock, ARM, Balabit, Zabbix, etc. and the Ubuntu Core engineering team, the server became this: A switch, firewall and load balance […]' url: https://canonical.com/blog/the-power-of-software-defined-networking-appliances-sdna?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Maarten Ectors](https://canonical.com/blog/author/maarten-ectors "More about Maarten Ectors") 8 April 2015 # The power of Software Defined Networking appliances – SDNA [ARM](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/arm) [CyberVision](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/cybervision) [dataart](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/dataart) [f5](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/f5) [ForgeRock](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/forgerock) [IoT World](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/iot-world) [Microsoft](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/microsoft) [MWC](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/mwc) [software defined](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/software-defined) [software defined networking appliance](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/software-defined-networking-appliance) --- Share the article For Mobile World Congress we purchased the cheapest Intel server with 6 ports from the Amazon Store: After installing [Snappy Ubuntu](http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/tools/snappy) Core and working with partners like Microsoft, F5, Dataart, Cybervision, Forgerock, ARM, Balabit, Zabbix, etc. and the Ubuntu Core engineering team, the server became this: A switch, firewall and load balancer that shared performance data in real-time with Azure, was monitored by Zabbix from the cloud, device managed by ARM mbed Device Server, identity managed by Forgerock, an IoT wonder: AllJoyn compatible, being able to monitor local temperature and light intensity; making publicity via a connected scrolling display and an excellent robot arm controller. Software is defining everything. For networking this means that software defined networking appliances (SDNA) will be able to do a lot more for a lot less. Via the Snap Store, software defined networking appliances can generate revenue and reduce churn for their owners, e.g. think customer premise equipment [CPE] for telecom and enterprises paying for software purchased for their personalised CPE. At Ubuntu we are planning an even more impressive demo of SDNA for IoT World in San Francisco. If you think that you have better hardware, software or ideas than what we showed on Mobile World Congress, share them via the [Snappy mailing list](https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/snappy-app-devel) and your solutions might be shown on our booth… [Get in touch Interested in running Ubuntu in your organization?](https://ubuntu.com/about/contact-us/form) ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro on Azure Cobalt 200 VMs](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-azure-cobalt-200-vms) Microsoft has announced the preview of Azure Cobalt 200, its second-generation custom Arm silicon. Learn how Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro support these new VMs from day one, offering... [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce) 2 June 2026 [### Canonical collaborates with Microsoft to strengthen enterprise-grade Linux protection](https://canonical.com/blog/defenderandpro) Canonical is working with Microsoft Defender to improve the security of organizations’ mission-critical Linux workloads (March 18, 2026) Today Canonical, the publishers of... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 18 March 2026 [### Cloud-native Android™ infotainment: your CI pipeline shouldn’t depend on hardware](https://canonical.com/blog/cloud-native-android-infotainment-your-ci-pipeline-shouldnt-depend-on-hardware) More and more often, infotainment systems are being developed and delivered like software, yet often they are still tested and validated using hardware-centric processes. This... [Bertrand Boisseau](https://canonical.com/blog/author/bboisseau) 2 March 2026 [### SQL Server 2025 is generally available on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS](https://canonical.com/blog/sql-server-2025-ubuntu-24-04-lts) Microsoft has announced the General Availability of SQL Server 2025 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Learn about the new CU1 features, including OS-level observability, Contained... [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce) 6 February 2026