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eCore: Architecture and Whitebox Evolution of Alibaba's Service-oriented DCI network#

OCP Global Summit 2025 digest Program Core pick 13–16 October 2025

Abstract Recording

Speakers: Dennis Cai (Alibaba), Manish Mukherjee (Cisco)

Play the recording: eCore: Architecture and Whitebox Evolution of Alibaba's Service-oriented DCI network

  • Why: DC/WAN interconnect is core to the PM's remit, and Alibaba's eCore is one of the few publicly detailed whitebox DCI architectures — modular, service-aware, and with claimed measurable impact.
  • What: Alibaba's Data Center Interconnect network built on a modular whitebox-based architecture with service-aware traffic forwarding powered by SRv6, co-presented with Cisco on design philosophy, deployment challenges, measurable impact, and the roadmap. (from abstract only)
  • How: Service-aware SRv6 forwarding over a whitebox chassis/architecture rather than traditional DCI routers; details of the custom whitebox solutions are promised in the talk.
  • Where applicable: Alibaba-specific production DCI, but the pattern (whitebox + SRv6 service awareness for DC-to-DC) is the direction hyperscalers are generally taking. Watch for the "measurable impact" claims being quantified in the room rather than the abstract.