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 the ML2 networking plugin


Before you can consume the Neutron API and build networking resources, a networking plugin must be defined and configured. The remainder of this chapter is dedicated to providing instructions on installing and configuring the ML2 plugin and LinuxBridge or Open vSwitch drivers and respective network agents.

Prior to the ML2 plugin and a common database schema, the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch plugins could not easily interoperate with one another. When using the ML2 plugin, it is possible to use both the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch drivers simultaneously within an environment but on different hosts. Some agents, such as the L3 and DHCP agents, require a network driver to be defined as part of their configuration. These changes will be highlighted as part of the configuration outlined in this chapter.

Configuring the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch drivers for simultaneous operation is outside the scope of this book. For simplicity, I recommend deploying the...