Prepare Open vSwitch 1.1.2 release.

[sliver-openvswitch.git] / README

diff --git a/README b/README
index 146795b..8972aec 100644 (file)
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ What is Open vSwitch?
 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
-(e.g. NetFlow, RSPAN, ERSPAN, IOS-like CLI), and opens the forwarding
-functions to programmatic extension and control.
+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
@@ -20,17 +20,25 @@ 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:
 
-    * Visibility into inter-VM communication via NetFlow, SPAN, and RSPAN
-    * Standard 802.1Q VLAN model with trunking
-    * Per VM policing
-    * NIC bonding with source-MAC load balancing
-    * Kernel-based forwarding
-    * Support for OpenFlow
-    * Compatibility layer for the Linux bridging code
-
-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.
+    * 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?
 ------------
@@ -40,6 +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 
@@ -51,15 +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.
 
@@ -82,7 +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