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 Neutron services


The neutron-server service exposes the Neutron API to users and passes all calls to the configured Neutron plugins for processing.

By default, Neutron is configured to listen for API calls on all configured addresses as seen by the default bind_hosts option in the Neutron configuration file:

bind_host = 0.0.0.0

As an additional security measure, it is possible to expose the API only on the management or API network. On the controller node, update the bind_host value in the [DEFAULT] section of the Neutron configuration located at /etc/neutron/neutron.conf with the management address of the controller node:

[DEFAULT]
...
bind_host = 10.254.254.100

Other configuration options that may require tweaking include:

  • core_plugin

  • service_plugins

  • dhcp_lease_duration

Some of these settings apply to all nodes, while others apply only to the network or controller node. The core_plugin configuration option instructs Neutron to use the specified networking plugin. Beginning with the...