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Open vSwitch uses OpenFlow as its preferred method of remote flow table
-configuration. Running ovs-vswitchd(8) with the bridge.<name>.controller
-set of parameters as described in ovs-vswitchd.conf(5) will cause it to
-connect to the specified controller using OpenFlow. We recommend using
-OpenFlow in this manner, however, it is also possible to use Open vSwitch
-as a simple OpenFlow switch like that provided by the OpenFlow reference
-implementation [1].
+configuration. This is the simplest method of using it with an OpenFlow
+controller. All that is required is to follow the instructions in
+INSTALL.Linux and add the bridge.<name>.controller set of parameters to the
+ovs-vswitchd(8) configuration file as described in ovs-vswitchd.conf(5).
+We recommend using OpenFlow in this manner. However, it is also possible to
+use Open vSwitch as a simple OpenFlow switch like that provided by the
+OpenFlow reference implementation [1]. The remainder of this file describes
+how to user it in that manner.
What is OpenFlow?
-----------------
Creating datapath dp0 creates a new network device, also named dp0.
This network device, called the datapath's "local port", will be
- bridged to the physical switch ports by ovs-openflowd(8), for use in
- in-band control.
+ bridged to the physical switch ports by ovs-openflowd(8). It is
+ optionally used for in-band control as described in step 5.
4. Use ovs-dpctl to attach the datapath to physical interfaces on the
machine. Say, for example, you want to create a trivial 2-port
# ovs-dpctl show dp0
-5. Arrange so that the switch can reach the controller over the
- network.
+5. Arrange so that the switch can reach the controller over the network.
+ This can be done in two ways. The switch may be configured for
+ out-of-band control, which means it uses a network separate from the
+ data traffic that it controls. Alternatively, the switch may be
+ configured to contact the controller over one of the network devices
+ under its control. In-band control is often more convenient than
+ out-of-band, because it is not necessary to maintain two independent
+ networks.
- If you are using out-of-band control, at this point make sure
that the switch machine can reach the controller over the
* If the switch does not have a static IP address, e.g. its
IP address is obtained dynamically via DHCP, then proceed
- to step 4. The DHCP client will not be able to contact
- the DHCP server until the secure channel has started up.
+ to the next step. The DHCP client will not be able to
+ contact the DHCP server until the secure channel has
+ started. The address will be obtained in step 7.
- If you are using in-band control with controller discovery, no
configuration is required at this point. You may proceed to
- step 4.
+ the next step.
6. Run ovs-openflowd to start the secure channel connecting the datapath to
a remote controller. If the controller is running on host