Book Image

Learning OpenStack Networking (Neutron)

By : James Denton
Book Image

Learning OpenStack Networking (Neutron)

By: James Denton

Overview of this book

OpenStack Neutron is an OpenStack component that provides networking as a service for other OpenStack services to architect networks and create virtual machines through its API. This API lets you define network connectivity in order to leverage network capabilities to cloud deployments. Through this practical book, you will build a strong foundational knowledge of Neutron, and will architect and build an OpenStack cloud using advanced networking features. We start with an introduction to OpenStack Neutron and its various components, including virtual switching, routing, FWaaS, VPNaaS, and LBaaS. You’ll also get hands-on by installing OpenStack and Neutron and its components, and use agents and plugins to orchestrate network connectivity and build a virtual switching infrastructure. Moving on, you’ll get to grips with the HA routing capabilities utilizing VRRP and distributed virtual routers in Neutron. You’ll also discover load balancing fundamentals, including the difference between nodes, pools, pool members, and virtual IPs. You’ll discover the purpose of security groups and learn how to apply the security concept to your cloud/tenant/instance. Finally, you' ll configure virtual private networks that will allow you to avoid the use of SNAT and floating IPs when connecting to remote networks.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
Learning OpenStack Networking (Neutron) Second Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Configuring VirtualBox networking


When configuring VirtualBox networking, the following networks and types are required:

Network Type

Name

Network

Adapter Address

DHCP

NAT

<default>

<default>

<default>

Yes

Host-only

vboxnet0

10.254.254.0/24

10.254.254.1

No

Host-only

vboxnet1

10.50.0.0/24

10.50.0.1

No

Internal

overlay

172.18.0.0/24

n/a

No

Some of these networks are configured within the Preferences window of the VirtualBox application, while others are configured within the virtual machine settings window. The configuration of these networks is covered in the following sections.

Configuring host-only networks

To configure host-only networks within VirtualBox, open up the Preferences window. On a MacOS X machine, this can be found under the VirtualBox menu; on a Windows machine, this can be found under the File menu. By default, the General settings window will appear:

Figure B.1

Perform the following steps to configure the host-only networks:

  1. Click on the Host-only Networks button to reveal the existing host-only networks:

    Figure B.2

  2. Here, there are no host-only networks defined by default. On the right-hand side of the window, click on the icon shaped like a PCI card with a plus sign to add a new network:

    Figure B.3

    The first network will correspond to MGMT_NET, which is the OpenStack management and API network. The host machine, in this case the workstation running VirtualBox, needs an IP address from the network in order to communicate with the virtual OpenStack infrastructure nodes. Specify the address as 10.254.254.1 and a netmask of 255.255.255.0.

  3. Be sure to disable DHCP in the DHCP Server section and click on the OK button to save the changes. Once the changes are saved, the network will appear in the list:

    Figure B.4

  4. Add an additional network that will be used for external network traffic, specifically the floating IP network 10.50.0.0/24:

    Figure B.5

  5. Click on OK to save the changes. VirtualBox automatically configures an interface on the host machine with the address 10.50.0.1 and will be able to communicate with the floating IPs that are configured throughout the book. Once the changes are saved, both networks will be listed under Host-only Networks:

    Figure B.6

  6. Click on the OK button to save the networks.