.. meta::
  :description: Learn how Aether provides open source, cloud-native 5GC and 5GS capabilities with NR support for private 5G deployments.
  :keywords: Aether, open source, cloud-native, 5GC, 5GS, NR, private 5G

Aether: Open Source Cloud-Native 5G System
==========================================

Aether is an open source, cloud-native 5G edge cloud platform that supports
enterprise deployments of Private 5G, including 5GC, 5GS, and NR-based
workflows. Information about Aether (a Linux Foundation project) can be found on
the project website. An introduction to the Aether architecture can be found in
a companion book:

.. _reading_private5g:
.. admonition:: Further Reading

   `Aether Project <https://aetherproject.org>`_.

   L. Peterson, O. Sunay, and B. Davie. `Private 5G: A Systems
   Approach <https://5g.systemsapproach.org>`__. 2023


Getting Started with Aether
---------------------------

:doc:`Aether OnRamp </onramp/overview>` 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
<https://opennetworking.org/products/moso-canopy-5g-indoor-small-cell/>`__
radios.

Other Aether guides available on this site include:

* :doc:`Developing for Aether </developer/roc>`: Learn how to
  contribute back to Aether.

* :doc:`Runtime Operations </operations/gui>`: Learn how
  to operate Aether's 5G connectivity service.

Note that Aether was originally deployed as a centrally-managed cloud
service with a dedicated ops team. The expectation was that
organizations would participate in Aether by connecting their edge
site to this operational deployment.\ [#]_ That service has now been
deprecated in favor of users bringing up their own Aether sites using
:doc:`OnRamp </onramp/overview>`.

.. [#] The original Aether service supported the Pronto research
       project, with edge clusters built on top of an SDN-controlled
       and fully programmable switching fabric.  That fabric is no
       longer included in Aether OnRamp.


Aether Components
------------------------

Aether builds on two main subsystems: SD-Core (a 3GPP-compliant cloud
native Mobile Core) and SD-RAN (an O-RAN compliant near Real-Time RAN
Intelligent Controller, or nRT-RIC).  Additional documentation for each is
available at:

* :doc:`SD-Core Documentation <sdcore:index>`
* :doc:`SD-RAN Documentation <sdran:index>`

A third component, *ROC (Runtime Operational Control)*, is part of the
Aether Management Plane. This Guide documents how operators use ROC to
control Aether (see the NAV bar). ROC builds on µONOS (specifically
the ``onos-config`` microservice), with additional documentation for
developers available at:

* `µONOS Documentation <https://docs.onosproject.org>`__

More information about 5G and Aether's architecture can be found in
the :doc:`Private 5G: A Systems Approach <sysapproach5g:index>` book.

Community
---------

Information about participating in the Aether community and
development process can be found on the `Aether Wiki
<https://wiki.aetherproject.org/display/HOME/Aether+Project>`_.