Update documentation.

[sliver-openvswitch.git] / README

diff --git a/README b/README
index 8991e4c..7311292 100644 (file)
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -18,54 +18,67 @@ following features:
        * 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.
+
 What's here?
 ------------
 
-The most important components of this distribution are:
+The main components of this distribution are:
+
+        - ovs-vswitchd, a daemon that implements the virtual switch,
+          along with a companion Linux kernel module for flow-based
+          switching.
 
-       - A Linux kernel module for flow-based switching, in the
-          datapath directory.
+        - 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 ioctls.
 
-        - ovs-vswitchd, a daemon that implements the virtual switch.
+       - ovs-dpctl, a tool for configuring the virtual switch kernel
+          module.
 
-       - ovs-dpctl, a tool for configuring the kernel module and
-          controlling OpenFlow switches.
+        - Scripts and specs for building RPMs that allow Open vSwitch
+          to be installed on a Citrix XenServer host as a drop-in
+          replacement for its virtual switch, with additional
+          functionality.
+
+       - vlog-appctl, a utility that can control Open vSwitch daemons,
+          adjusting their logging levels among other uses.
 
-This distribution includes some additional software as well:
+Open vSwitch also provides an OpenFlow implementation and tools for
+those interested in OpenFlow but not additional Open vSwitch features:
 
        - secchan, 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-controller, a simple OpenFlow switch
+       - ovs-controller, a simple OpenFlow controller.
 
        - ovs-ofctl, a utility for querying and controlling OpenFlow
           switches and controllers.
 
-       - vlog-appctl, a utility that can control Open vSwitch daemons,
-          adjusting their logging levels among other uses.
-
        - ovs-pki, a utility for creating and managing the public-key
           infrastructure for OpenFlow switches.
 
        - A patch to tcpdump that enables it to parse OpenFlow
           messages.
 
-For installation instructions, read INSTALL.  Each userspace program
-is also accompanied by a manpage.
+What other documentation is available?
+--------------------------------------
 
-Platform support
-----------------
+To install Open vSwitch on a regular Linux machine, read INSTALL.Linux.
 
-Our primary test environment is Debian GNU/Linux.  Ports to other
-platforms are welcome.  Please contact us with portability-related bug
-reports or patches.
+To build RPMs for installing Open vSwitch on a Citrix XenServer host
+or resource pool, read INSTALL.XenServer.
 
-The testing of the kernel module has focused on version 2.6.18 from
-Xen and version 2.6.26 from kernel.org.  Linux 2.6 releases from
-2.6.15 onward should also work.
+To learn set up SSL support for Open vSwitch, read INSTALL.SSL.
 
-GCC is the expected compiler.
+Each Open vSwitch userspace program is accompanied by a manpage.  Many
+of the manpages are customized to your configuration as part of the
+build process, so we recommend building Open vSwitch before reading
+the manpages.
 
 Contact 
 -------