Neutron maintains the overall network architecture in a database, and the network plugin agent on each node is responsible for configuring the virtual network accordingly. DHCP and metadata services that run on the controller or dedicated network node deliver IP addresses and instance-specific data at boot time.

Now that OpenStack Networking services have been installed across all nodes in the environment, the configuration of a Layer 2 networking plugin is all that remains before instances can be created.

In the next chapter, you will be guided through the configuration of the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch monolithic networking plugins. You will also be provided with an overview of the differences between the two plugins in terms of how they function and provide layer 2 connectivity to instances. The use of the ML2 plugin is not required in Havana, but for your reference, its configuration has been provided in Appendix B, ML2 Configuration.