+.de IQ
+. br
+. ns
+. IP "\\$1"
+..
.TH ovs\-dpctl 8 "August 2009" "Open vSwitch" "Open vSwitch Manual"
.ds PN ovs\-dpctl
.
.SH DESCRIPTION
.PP
The \fBovs\-dpctl\fR program can create, modify, and delete Open vSwitch
-datapaths. A single machine may host up to 256 datapaths (numbered 0
-to 255).
+datapaths. A single machine may host any number of datapaths.
.PP
A newly created datapath is associated with only one network device, a
virtual network device sometimes called the datapath's ``local port''.
.RS
.IP "\fBtype=\fItype\fR"
Specifies the type of port to add. The default type is \fBsystem\fR.
+.IP "\fBport_no=\fIport\fR"
+Requests a specific port number within the datapath. If this option is
+not specified then one will be automatically assigned.
.IP "\fIkey\fB=\fIvalue\fR"
Adds an arbitrary key-value option to the port's configuration.
.RE
\fIoption\fR of the form \fIkey\fB=\fIvalue\fR adds the specified
key-value option to the port or overrides an existing key's value. An
\fIoption\fR of the form \fIkey\fB=\fR, that is, without a value,
-deletes the key-value named \fIkey\fR. The type of a port cannot be
-changed, so \fBtype=\fItype\fR is only allowed if \fItype\fR is the
-port's existing type.
+deletes the key-value named \fIkey\fR. The type and port number of a
+port cannot be changed, so \fBtype\fR and \fBport_no\fR are only allowed if
+they match the existing configuration.
.TP
\fBdel\-if \fIdp netdev\fR...
Removes each \fInetdev\fR from the list of network devices datapath
up may be confused about their disappearance.
.
.SH OPTIONS
-.IP "\fB\-s\fR, \fB\-\-statistics\fR"
+.IP "\fB\-s\fR"
+.IQ "\fB\-\-statistics\fR"
Causes the \fBshow\fR command to print packet and byte counters for
each port within the datapaths that it shows.
-.TP
-\fB\-t\fR, \fB\-\-timeout=\fIsecs\fR
+.
+.IP "\fB\-t\fR"
+.IQ "\fB\-\-timeout=\fIsecs\fR"
Limits \fBovs\-dpctl\fR runtime to approximately \fIsecs\fR seconds. If
the timeout expires, \fBovs\-dpctl\fR will exit with a \fBSIGALRM\fR
signal.