.
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fBovsdb\-server\fR
-[\fIdatabase\fR]
+[\fIdatabase\fR]\&...
[\fB\-\-remote=\fIremote\fR]\&...
[\fB\-\-run=\fIcommand\fR]
.so lib/daemon-syn.man
.so lib/common-syn.man
.
.SH DESCRIPTION
-The \fBovsdb\-server\fR program provides RPC interfaces to an Open
-vSwitch database (OVSDB). It supports JSON-RPC client connections
-over active or passive TCP/IP or Unix domain sockets.
+The \fBovsdb\-server\fR program provides RPC interfaces to one or more
+Open vSwitch databases (OVSDBs). It supports JSON-RPC client
+connections over active or passive TCP/IP or Unix domain sockets.
.PP
-The OVSDB file may be specified on the command line as \fIdatabase\fR.
-The default is \fB@DBDIR@/conf.db\fR. The database
-file must already have been created and initialized using, for
+Each OVSDB file may be specified on the command line as \fIdatabase\fR.
+If none is specified, the default is \fB@DBDIR@/conf.db\fR. The database
+files must already have been created and initialized using, for
example, \fBovsdb\-tool create\fR.
.
.SH OPTIONS
.so ovsdb/remote-passive.man
.so ovsdb/remote-active.man
.
-.IP "\fBdb:\fItable\fB,\fIcolumn\fR"
+.IP "\fBdb:\fR[\fIdb\fB,\fR]\fItable\fB,\fIcolumn\fR"
Reads additional connection methods from \fIcolumn\fR in all of the
-rows in \fItable\fR. As the contents of \fIcolumn\fR changes,
-\fBovsdb\-server\fR also adds and drops connection methods
-accordingly.
+rows in \fItable\fR within \fIdb\fR. (If \fBovsdb\-server\fR is
+providing access to only one database, then \fIdb\fR is optional.) As
+the contents of \fIcolumn\fR changes, \fBovsdb\-server\fR also adds
+and drops connection methods accordingly.
.IP
If \fIcolumn\fR's type is string or set of strings, then the
connection methods are taken directly from the column. The connection
be configured.
.IP "\fBmax_backoff\fR (integer)"
Maximum number of milliseconds to wait between connection attempts.
-.IP "\fBinactivity_probe\fR (integer)
+.IP "\fBinactivity_probe\fR (integer)"
Maximum number of milliseconds of idle time on connection to
client before sending an inactivity probe message.
.RE
These commands are specific to \fBovsdb\-server\fR.
.IP "\fBexit\fR"
Causes \fBovsdb\-server\fR to gracefully terminate.
-.IP "\fBovsdb\-server/compact\fR"
-Compacts the database in-place. The database is also automatically
-compacted occasionally.
+.IP "\fBovsdb\-server/compact\fR [\fIdb\fR]\&..."
+Compacts each database \fIdb\fR in-place. If no \fIdb\fR is
+specified, compacts every database in-place. Databases are also
+automatically compacted occasionally.
.
.IP "\fBovsdb\-server/reconnect\fR"
Makes \fBovsdb\-server\fR drop all of the JSON\-RPC