Update documentation to mention correct Autoconf version prerequisite.

[mirror_ovs.git] / README

                 Open vSwitch <http://openvswitch.org>

What is Open vSwitch?
---------------------

Open vSwitch is a multilayer software switch licensed under the open
source Apache 2 license.  Our goal is to implement a production
quality switch platform that supports standard management interfaces
(e.g. NetFlow, RSPAN, ERSPAN, IOS-like CLI), and opens the forwarding
functions to programmatic extension and control.

Open vSwitch is well suited to function as a virtual switch in VM
environments.  In addition to exposing standard control and visibility
interfaces to the virtual networking layer, it was designed to support
distribution across multiple physical servers.  Open vSwitch supports
multiple Linux-based virtualization technologies including
Xen/XenServer, KVM, and VirtualBox.

The bulk of the code is written in platform-independent C and is
easily ported to other environments.  The current release of Open
vSwitch supports the following features:

    * Visibility into inter-VM communication via NetFlow, SPAN, and RSPAN
    * Standard 802.1Q VLAN model with trunking
    * Per VM policing
    * NIC bonding with source-MAC load balancing
    * Kernel-based forwarding
    * Support for OpenFlow
    * Compatibility layer for the Linux bridging code

Open vSwitch supports Linux 2.6.15 and up, with testing focused on
2.6.18 with Centos and Xen patches and version 2.6.26 from kernel.org.
Open vSwitch also has special support for Citrix XenServer hosts.

What's here?
------------

The main components of this distribution are:

    * ovs-vswitchd, a daemon that implements the switch, along with 
      a companion Linux kernel module for flow-based switching.

    * ovs-brcompatd, a daemon that allows ovs-vswitchd to act as a
      drop-in replacement for the Linux bridge in many environments, 
      along with a companion Linux kernel module to intercept bridge 
      ioctls.

    * ovs-dpctl, a tool for configuring the switch kernel module.

    * Scripts and specs for building RPMs that allow Open vSwitch
      to be installed on a Citrix XenServer host as a drop-in
      replacement for its switch, with additional functionality.

    * ovs-vsctl, a utility for querying and updating the configuration
      of ovs-vswitchd.

    * ovs-appctl, a utility that sends commands to running Open
      vSwitch daemons.

Open vSwitch also provides an OpenFlow implementation and tools for
those interested in OpenFlow but not additional Open vSwitch features:

    * ovs-openflowd, a program that implements a simple OpenFlow
      switch (without the special features provided by ovs-vswitchd)
      using the same kernel module as ovs-vswitchd.

    * ovs-controller, a simple OpenFlow controller.

    * ovs-ofctl, a utility for querying and controlling OpenFlow
      switches and controllers.

    * ovs-pki, a utility for creating and managing the public-key
      infrastructure for OpenFlow switches.

    * A patch to tcpdump that enables it to parse OpenFlow messages.

What other documentation is available?
--------------------------------------

To install Open vSwitch on a regular Linux machine, read INSTALL.Linux.

To use Open vSwitch as a drop-in replacement for the Linux bridge,
read INSTALL.bridge.

To build RPMs for installing Open vSwitch on a Citrix XenServer host
or resource pool, read INSTALL.XenServer.

To learn set up SSL support for Open vSwitch, read INSTALL.SSL.

Each Open vSwitch userspace program is accompanied by a manpage.  Many
of the manpages are customized to your configuration as part of the
build process, so we recommend building Open vSwitch before reading
the manpages.

Contact 
-------

bugs@openvswitch.org
http://openvswitch.org/