Engagement & Delivery Models

Four Ways to Engage with PalC Engineering

Whether you need a dedicated product development team, protocol engineering experts, independent testing and validation, or structured post-deployment support - PalC's four engagement models are designed to match how your organisation needs to work, not the other way around.

CPDaaS

Customized Product Development

A dedicated engineering team building custom networking products and platform solutions end-to-end - from requirements through delivery and lifecycle support.

PDaaS

Protocol Development as a Service

Expert protocol engineering for routing, switching, transport, and control-plane protocols - new implementations, extensions, and porting across NOS and platform targets.

PTaaS

Protocol Testing & Validation

Independent protocol conformance, interoperability, scale, and regression testing - delivered as a service against international standards and real-world traffic scenarios.

SaaS

Support as a Service

Structured 24/7 or business-hours expert support for networking products and platforms - tiered SLAs, TAC access, bug triage, patch management, and release lifecycle coverage.

The networking industry requires deep, sustained engineering engagement - not generic staff augmentation. PalC's four delivery models are purpose-built for the realities of network product development: long-cycle protocol engineering, independent standards-based test validation, complex platform customisation, and the highly specialised post-deployment support that networking software demands. Each model brings dedicated expertise, structured governance, and clear IP handover - so your team retains knowledge and capability, not just deliverables.

CPDaaS - Customized Product Development as a Service

End-to-end engineering for custom networking products and platforms

NOS & Platform Development

Custom network operating system features, SONiC platform bring-up, and ODM-specific board support package development.

Protocol Implementation

Custom protocol module development - new protocol support, vendor-specific extensions, and routing stack customisation.

Platform Extension & Integration

Integrating PalC or third-party products into your platform ecosystem - SDKs, APIs, and management plane integration.

System Software & Tooling

Build systems, test automation, CI/CD, and operational tooling developed alongside the product - not as an afterthought.

CPDaaS Delivery Process

  1. Discovery & Requirements AlignmentDeep-dive into requirements, target hardware, and success criteria.
  2. Architecture & Design ReviewProtocol selection, platform dependencies, and build strategy agreed before implementation.
  3. Iterative Development & IntegrationSprint-based delivery with demos, code reviews, and CI/CD integration.
  4. Validation & Acceptance TestingFunctional, regression, performance, and interoperability testing.
  5. Delivery, Handover & Lifecycle SupportSource code, documentation, and test suites handed over with optional ongoing support.

PDaaS - Protocol Development as a Service

Expert protocol engineering delivered as a dedicated service

Routing Protocol Engineering

New protocol implementation, RFC-compliant feature additions, and performance optimisation for IP routing stacks.

Switching & Overlay Protocols

L2/L3 switching protocol development and overlay protocol implementation for data centre and carrier deployments.

Protocol Porting & Platform Adaptation

Porting proven protocol implementations across NOS targets - FRR, GoBGP, IP Infusion stack, SONiC, and ODM platforms.

Transport & Optical Protocols

Protocol engineering for packet optical, transport, and management plane domains.

PDaaS Delivery Process

  1. Protocol Scope & RFC AlignmentDetailed feature specification and implementation plan.
  2. Architecture & Interface DesignData model and API design reviewed with engineering teams.
  3. Implementation & Unit TestingIterative protocol development with coverage and edge-case handling.
  4. Integration & Interoperability TestingMulti-vendor and topology-scale validations under realistic conditions.
  5. Delivery & Knowledge TransferCode handover, design notes, and knowledge transfer sessions.

PTaaS - Protocol Testing & Validation as a Service

Independent protocol conformance, interoperability, and scale testing

Protocol Conformance Testing

Systematic RFC-based conformance testing for protocol correctness under defined scenarios.

Multi-Vendor Interoperability

Validation against real hardware/software peers for stable sessions and behaviour.

Scale & Performance Testing

Route scale, convergence timing, failover behaviour, and control-plane profiling.

Regression & Release Validation

Automated test execution, baseline comparison, and defect reporting for release readiness.

PTaaS Delivery Process

  1. Test Scope & Plan DefinitionCoverage matrix, equipment list, and pass/fail criteria.
  2. Test Environment SetupPhysical/virtual topology setup with DUT and tooling validation.
  3. Test Execution & Defect ReportingStructured execution with packet captures and issue tracking.
  4. Analysis & Validation ReportComprehensive report with findings and recommendations.
  5. Regression Suite HandoverScripts, configurations, and rerun instructions for future releases.

SaaS - Support as a Service

Structured expert support for networking products and platforms

Technical Assistance Centre (TAC)

Engineering-level TAC access with protocol/platform expertise, not scripted support.

Bug Triage & Patch Engineering

Defect reproduction, root-cause analysis, patch development, and targeted validation.

Software Maintenance & Lifecycle

Dependency updates, CVE patch integration, and long-term lifecycle planning.

Knowledge Base & Documentation

Troubleshooting guides, known-issue tracking, and release documentation.

SaaS Delivery & Support Structure

  1. Support Scope & SLA AgreementCoverage, severity, response SLAs, and escalation paths defined.
  2. Onboarding & Lab SetupProduct onboarding and mirror lab environment setup.
  3. Issue Intake, Triage & ResolutionStructured issue handling with SLA tracking and patch paths.
  4. Periodic Maintenance ReleasesValidated patches bundled into planned maintenance releases.
  5. Quarterly Reviews & Lifecycle PlanningSLA review, roadmap alignment, and support continuity planning.

Choosing the Right Engagement Model

A quick reference across all four models to help identify the best fit for your requirements.

CPDaaSPDaaSPTaaSSaaS
Primary NeedBuild a custom product or platformImplement or port protocolsValidate and certify protocolsSustain a deployed product
Engagement TypeProject or retained teamProject or feature-scopedCampaign or ongoing testingAnnual contract with SLAs
IP OwnershipCustomer retains IPCustomer retains IPCustomer retains product IPN/A - support service
Protocol DepthHigh - part of scopeCore capabilityRFC-level testingDefect analysis
DeliverablesSource code, docs, testsSource code, protocol docsTest reports, regression suitePatches, release notes, KB
Typical Duration3-18 months2-12 months4-16 weeks per campaignAnnual - multi-year

Get Started

Talk to the right team for your engagement

Each model has a dedicated discussion path. Share your requirements and our team will confirm the right fit - or design a combination if your needs span more than one model.

CPDaaS

Customized Product Development

Building a new networking product, extending an existing NOS, or needing a dedicated team for platform customisation and system integration.

Start a CPDaaS Discussion
PDaaS

Protocol Development

Needing protocol implementation, RFC-compliant feature additions, protocol porting across NOS targets, or deep control-plane expertise.

Start a PDaaS Discussion
PTaaS

Protocol Testing & Validation

Requiring independent conformance testing, multi-vendor interoperability validation, scale benchmarking, or regression suite engineering.

Start a PTaaS Discussion
SaaS

Support as a Service

Needing SLA-backed TAC support, bug triage and patch engineering, software maintenance, or long-term lifecycle management.

Start a SaaS Discussion

Not sure which model fits? Talk to us first.

Many engagements combine models - CPDaaS for development with PTaaS for independent validation, or PDaaS with SaaS for long-term maintenance. We'll help you design the right structure.

Request a Consultation

Proven outcomes from the field

Deployments across AI fabrics, multi-cloud, automation, and security.

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Ready to choose the right engagement model?

Share your product goals and constraints. PalC will align the right model - or a blended model - with clear scope, outcomes, and delivery ownership.

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Discuss your infrastructure goals with our experts.

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