X-Git-Url: http://git.onelab.eu/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=README;h=8972aec09a2570d78a7a93ad942a67a4e4e3137c;hb=refs%2Fheads%2Fbranch-1.1;hp=1fa27ba2bf24cf28c3564a83b220b0984567108a;hpb=3b01baa3970139c3a195017ab1ea3e42761e3db2;p=sliver-openvswitch.git diff --git a/README b/README index 1fa27ba2b..8972aec09 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -3,23 +3,42 @@ What is Open vSwitch? --------------------- -Open vSwitch is a versatile software-based Ethernet switch with the -following features: - - * NIC bonding with automatic fail-over and source MAC-based TX - load balancing ("SLB"). - - * 802.1Q VLAN support. - - * Port mirroring, with optional VLAN tagging. - - * NetFlow v5 flow logging. - - * Connectivity to an external OpenFlow controller, such as NOX. - -Open vSwitch supports Linux 2.6.15 and up, with testing focused on -2.6.18 with Centos and Xen patches and version 2.6.26 from kernel.org. -Open vSwitch also has special support for Citrix XenServer hosts. +Open vSwitch is a multilayer software switch licensed under the open +source Apache 2 license. Our goal is to implement a production +quality switch platform that supports standard management interfaces +and opens the forwarding functions to programmatic extension and +control. + +Open vSwitch is well suited to function as a virtual switch in VM +environments. In addition to exposing standard control and visibility +interfaces to the virtual networking layer, it was designed to support +distribution across multiple physical servers. Open vSwitch supports +multiple Linux-based virtualization technologies including +Xen/XenServer, KVM, and VirtualBox. + +The bulk of the code is written in platform-independent C and is +easily ported to other environments. The current release of Open +vSwitch supports the following features: + + * Standard 802.1Q VLAN model with trunk and access ports + * NIC bonding with or without LACP on upstream switch + * NetFlow, sFlow(R), SPAN, RSPAN, and ERSPAN for increased visibility + * QoS (Quality of Service) configuration, plus policing + * GRE, GRE over IPSEC, and CAPWAP tunneling + * 802.1ag connectivity fault management + * OpenFlow 1.0 plus numerous extensions + * Transactional configuration database with C and Python bindings + * Compatibility layer for Linux bridging code + * High-performance forwarding using a Linux kernel module + +The included Linux kernel module supports Linux 2.6.18 and up, with +testing focused on 2.6.32 with Centos and Xen patches. Open vSwitch +also has special support for Citrix XenServer hosts. + +Open vSwitch can also operate, at a cost in performance, entirely in +userspace, without assistance from a kernel module. This userspace +implementation should be easier to port than the kernel-based switch. +It is considered experimental. What's here? ------------ @@ -29,6 +48,9 @@ The main components of this distribution are: * ovs-vswitchd, a daemon that implements the switch, along with a companion Linux kernel module for flow-based switching. + * ovsdb-server, a lightweight database server that ovs-vswitchd + queries to obtain its configuration. + * ovs-brcompatd, a daemon that allows ovs-vswitchd to act as a drop-in replacement for the Linux bridge in many environments, along with a companion Linux kernel module to intercept bridge @@ -40,15 +62,21 @@ The main components of this distribution are: to be installed on a Citrix XenServer host as a drop-in replacement for its switch, with additional functionality. - * ovs-appctl, a utility that can control Open vSwitch daemons, - adjusting their logging levels among other uses. + * ovs-vsctl, a utility for querying and updating the configuration + of ovs-vswitchd. + + * ovs-appctl, a utility that sends commands to running Open + vSwitch daemons. + + * ovsdbmonitor, a GUI tool for remotely viewing OVS databases and + OpenFlow flow tables. Open vSwitch also provides an OpenFlow implementation and tools for those interested in OpenFlow but not additional Open vSwitch features: - * ovs-openflowd, a program that implements a simple OpenFlow - switch (without the special features provided by ovs-vswitchd) - using the same kernel module as ovs-vswitchd. + * ovs-openflowd, an alternative to ovs-vswitchd that implements a + simple OpenFlow switch, without the special features provided by + ovs-vswitchd. * ovs-controller, a simple OpenFlow controller. @@ -71,7 +99,13 @@ read INSTALL.bridge. To build RPMs for installing Open vSwitch on a Citrix XenServer host or resource pool, read INSTALL.XenServer. -To learn set up SSL support for Open vSwitch, read INSTALL.SSL. +To use Open vSwitch with KVM on Linux, read INSTALL.Linux, then +INSTALL.KVM. + +To install Open vSwitch without using a kernel module, read +INSTALL.userspace. + +To learn how to set up SSL support for Open vSwitch, read INSTALL.SSL. Each Open vSwitch userspace program is accompanied by a manpage. Many of the manpages are customized to your configuration as part of the