. RS -0.15in
. I "\\$1"
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..
.TH ovs\-vsctl 8 "November 2009" "Open vSwitch" "Open vSwitch Manual"
.ds PN ovs\-vsctl
ovs\-vsctl \- utility for querying and configuring \fBovs\-vswitchd\fR
.
.SH SYNOPSIS
-\fBovs\-vsctl\fR [\fIoptions\fR] [\fB\-\-\fR] \fIcommand \fR[\fIargs\fR\&...]
-[\fB\-\-\fR \fIcommand \fR[\fIargs\fR\&...]]
+\fBovs\-vsctl\fR [\fIoptions\fR] \fB\-\-\fR [\fIoptions\fR] \fIcommand
+\fR[\fIargs\fR] [\fB\-\-\fR [\fIoptions\fR] \fIcommand \fR[\fIargs\fR]]...
.
.SH DESCRIPTION
The \fBovs\-vsctl\fR program configures \fBovs\-vswitchd\fR(8) by
-providing a high\-level interface to editing its configuration
+providing a high\-level interface to its configuration
database. This program is mainly intended for use when
\fBovs\-vswitchd\fR is running. If it is used when
\fBovs\-vswitchd\fR is not running, then \fB\-\-no\-wait\fR should be
.PP
\fBovs\-vsctl\fR can perform any number of commands in a single run,
implemented as a single atomic transaction against the database.
-Commands are separated on the command line by \fB\-\-\fR arguments.
+.PP
+The \fBovs\-vsctl\fR command line begins with global options (see
+\fBOPTIONS\fR below for details). The global options are followed by
+one or more commands. Each command should begin with \fB\-\-\fR by
+itself as a command-line argument, to separate it from the global
+options and following commands. (If the first command does not have
+any options, then the first \fB\-\-\fR may be omitted.) The command
+itself starts with command-specific options, if any, followed by the
+command name and any arguments. See \fBEXAMPLES\fR below for syntax
+examples.
.
.SS "Linux VLAN Bridging Compatibility"
The \fBovs\-vsctl\fR program supports the model of a bridge
not used, \fBovs\-vsctl\fR uses a timeout of five seconds.
(A timeout would normally happen only if the database cannot be contacted.)
.
+.SS "Public Key Infrastructure Options"
.so lib/ssl.man
.so lib/vlog.man
.
Lists all of the ports within \fIbridge\fR on standard output, one per
line. The local port \fIbridge\fR is not included in the list.
.
-.IP "\fBadd\-port \fIbridge port\fR"
+.IP "[\fB\-\-may\-exist\fR] \fBadd\-port \fIbridge port\fR"
Creates on \fIbridge\fR a new port named \fIport\fR from the network
device of the same name.
+.IP
+Without \fB\-\-may\-exist\fR, attempting to create a port that exists
+is an error. With \fB\-\-may\-exist\fR, \fIport\fR may already exist
+(but it must be on \fIbridge\fR and not be a bonded port).
.
.IP "[\fB\-\-fake\-iface\fR] \fBadd\-bond \fIbridge port iface\fR\&..."
Creates on \fIbridge\fR a new port named \fIport\fR that bonds
With \fB\-\-fake\-iface\fR, a fake interface with the name \fIport\fR is
created. This should only be used for compatibility with legacy
software that requires it.
+.IP
+Without \fB\-\-may\-exist\fR, attempting to create a port that exists
+is an error. With \fB\-\-may\-exist\fR, \fIport\fR may already exist
+(but it must be on \fIbridge\fR and bond together exactly the
+specified interface).
.
.IP "[\fB\-\-if\-exists\fR] \fBdel\-port \fR[\fIbridge\fR] \fIport\fR"
Deletes \fIport\fR. If \fIbridge\fR is omitted, \fIport\fR is removed
not exist is an error. With \fB\-\-if\-exists\fR, attempting to
delete a port that does not exist has no effect.
.
+.IP "[\fB\-\-if\-exists\fR] \fB\-\-with\-iface del\-port \fR[\fIbridge\fR] \fIiface\fR"
+Deletes the port named \fIiface\fR or that has an interface named
+\fIiface\fR. If \fIbridge\fR is omitted, the port is removed from
+whatever bridge contains it; if \fIbridge\fR is specified, it must be
+the real or fake bridge that contains the port.
+.IP
+Without \fB\-\-if\-exists\fR, attempting to delete the port for an
+interface that does not exist is an error. With \fB\-\-if\-exists\fR,
+attempting to delete the port for an interface that does not exist has
+no effect.
+.
.IP "\fBport\-to\-br \fIport\fR"
Prints the name of the bridge that contains \fIport\fR on standard
output.
.RE
.
.ST "Controller Failure Settings"
-.
+.PP
When a controller is configured, it is, ordinarily, responsible for
setting up all flows on the switch. Thus, if the connection to
the controller fails, no new network connections can be set up. If
below.
.
.ST "CA Certificate Bootstrap"
+.PP
Ordinarily, all of the files named in the SSL configuration must exist
when \fBovs\-vswitchd\fR starts. However, if the \fB\-\-bootstrap\fR
option is given, then \fBovs\-vswitchd\fR will attempt to obtain the
to identify the \fBNetFlow\fR table.
.
.ST "Database Values"
+.PP
Each column in the database accepts a fixed type of data. The
currently defined basic types, and their representations, are:
.IP "integer"
as well.
.
.ST "Database Command Syntax"
-.
.IP "\fBlist \fItable \fR[\fIrecord\fR]..."
List the values of all columns of each specified \fIrecord\fR. If no
records are specified, lists all the records in \fItable\fR.