Table of Contents

Openvswitch (OVS) tips & trips

Before anything - RTFF - FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Installation/compile

Debian / from source / GIT

 export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS=nocheck
 dpkg-buildpackage -b -us -uc -nc

Configuration tips

Configuration in Debian/Ubuntu via /etc/network/interfaces

Example:

/etc/network/interfaces

allow-ovs br0
iface br0 inet manual
   ovs_type OVSBridge
   ovs_ports mgt0 eth1 eth2
   ovs_extra set Bridge br0 stp_enable=true
  
allow-br0 mgt0
iface mgt0 inet static
    address 10.14.131.34
    netmask 255.255.255.224
    ovs_bridge br0
    ovs_type OVSIntPort
    ovs_options vlan_mode=access
    ovs_options tag=999

allow-br0 eth1
iface eth1 inet manual
    ovs_bridge br0
    ovs_type OVSPort
    ovs_options vlan_mode=native-untagged
    ovs_options trunks=10,20,30,40
    ovs_options tag=999

allow-br0 eth2
iface eth2 inet manual
    ovs_bridge br0
    ovs_type OVSPort
    ovs_options vlan_mode=trunk
    ovs_options trunks=30,40

Creating GRE tunnel

/etc/network/interfaces

allow-ovs br0
iface br0 inet manual
   ovs_type OVSBridge
   ovs_ports mgt0 eth1 
   ovs_extra set Bridge br0 stp_enable=true
   post-up ovs-vsctl add-port br0 vgre0 -- set interface vgre0 type=gre \
	 options:remote_ip=10.0.0.1
....

Frequently use (useful) command

# Dump flows

 ovs-ofctl dump-flows br0

# Show mac table

 ovs-appctl fdb/show br0

# Show switch

 ovs-vsctl show

# Show datapath

 ovs-dpctl show

# Turn debugging on

 ovs-appctl vlog/set dbg

Troubleshooting

GRE problem

“You need to unload ip_gre and gre module, openvswitch GRE does not work along with kernel GRE module for now.”