Check out the new blog by Canonical announcing the beta release of Charmed Aether SD-Core, an automation solution for Aether. Charmed Aether SD-Core leverages Juju charms to run an open source 5G core network on a Kubernetes system utilizing COTS hardware and full software automation.
Aether, which includes the latest version of SD-Core (v1.4), is now tested and deployed using OnRamp. Blueprints include support for multiple RAN options: emulated gNBs, physical eNB/gNB, SD-RAN.
Aether OnRamp is now the recommended way to get started with Aether. It defines a step-by-step procedure for deploying and operating Aether on your own hardware, including support for 5G small cell radios.
Aether Governing Board member and Technical Steering Team (TST) Chair Larry Peterson recently spoke at the Linux Foundation’s 2024 ONE Summit. Larry presented on Aether: Private 5G for Industry 4.0, which included an overview of the Aether architecture, key innovations of Aether (SD-Core and SD-RAN) and Aether’s deployment machinery (OnRamp).
SD-Core supports 4G & 5G network functions and includes APIs for configuration, telemetry, policy management. Access networks can connect to Access & Mobility Management Function (AMF) or Mobility Management Entity (MME) depending on the type of access used.
The SD-Core v1.4.0 release includes bug fixes to improve stability, CI pipeline migrated to GitHub Actions, performance improvements to the UPF, and integration testing using OnRamp.
The move creates independent, community-led governance for Aether and sets the projects up for broader collaboration and adoption.
The new Aether Directed Fund supports the portfolio of 5G mobile networking projects, including Aether (private 5G and edge computing), SD-Core (open 5G mobile core) and SD-RAN (open RAN). Telco, commercial and research deployments rely on these projects, and a $2M US government research grant was just awarded to the project to advance energy savings and sustainability of 5G networks.
