Provider network

Before launching an instance, you must create the necessary virtual network infrastructure. For networking option 1, an instance uses a provider (external) network that connects to the physical network infrastructure via layer-2 (bridging/switching). This network includes a DHCP server that provides IP addresses to instances.

The admin or other privileged user must create this network because it connects directly to the physical network infrastructure.

Note

The following instructions and diagrams use example IP address ranges. You must adjust them for your particular environment.

Networking Option 1: Provider networks - Overview

Networking Option 1: Provider networks - Connectivity

Create the provider network

1. On the controller node, source the admin credentials to gain access to admin-only CLI commands:

   $ . admin-openrc
   

2. Create the network:

   $ openstack network create  --share --external \
     --provider-physical-network provider \
     --provider-network-type flat provider
   
   Created a new network:
   
   +---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
   | Field                     | Value                                |
   +---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
   | admin_state_up            | UP                                   |
   | availability_zone_hints   |                                      |
   | availability_zones        |                                      |
   | created_at                | 2017-03-14T14:37:39Z                 |
   | description               |                                      |
   | dns_domain                | None                                 |
   | id                        | 54adb94a-4dce-437f-a33b-e7e2e7648173 |
   | ipv4_address_scope        | None                                 |
   | ipv6_address_scope        | None                                 |
   | is_default                | None                                 |
   | mtu                       | 1500                                 |
   | name                      | provider                             |
   | port_security_enabled     | True                                 |
   | project_id                | 4c7f48f1da5b494faaa66713686a7707     |
   | provider:network_type     | flat                                 |
   | provider:physical_network | provider                             |
   | provider:segmentation_id  | None                                 |
   | qos_policy_id             | None                                 |
   | revision_number           | 3                                    |
   | router:external           | External                             |
   | segments                  | None                                 |
   | shared                    | True                                 |
   | status                    | ACTIVE                               |
   | subnets                   |                                      |
   | updated_at                | 2017-03-14T14:37:39Z                 |
   +---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
   

   The --share option allows all projects to use the virtual network.

   The --external option defines the virtual network to be external. If you wish to create an internal network, you can use --internal instead. Default value is internal.

   The --provider-physical-network provider and --provider-network-type flat options connect the flat virtual network to the flat (native/untagged) physical network on the br0 bridge, which can have a port which is connected to eth0 on the host using information from the following files:

   ml2_conf.ini:

   [ml2_type_flat]
   flat_networks = provider
   

   ml2_conf.ini:

   [ovs]
   bridge_mappings = provider:br0
   

3. Create a subnet on the network:

   $ openstack subnet create --network provider \
     --allocation-pool start=START_IP_ADDRESS,end=END_IP_ADDRESS \
     --dns-nameserver DNS_RESOLVER --gateway PROVIDER_NETWORK_GATEWAY \
     --subnet-range PROVIDER_NETWORK_CIDR provider
   

   Replace PROVIDER_NETWORK_CIDR with the subnet on the provider physical network in CIDR notation.

   Replace START_IP_ADDRESS and END_IP_ADDRESS with the first and last IP address of the range within the subnet that you want to allocate for instances. This range must not include any existing active IP addresses.

   Replace DNS_RESOLVER with the IP address of a DNS resolver. In most cases, you can use one from the /etc/resolv.conf file on the host.

   Replace PROVIDER_NETWORK_GATEWAY with the gateway IP address on the provider network, typically the “.1” IP address.

   Example

   The provider network uses 203.0.113.0/24 with a gateway on 203.0.113.1. A DHCP server assigns each instance an IP address from 203.0.113.101 to 203.0.113.250. All instances use 8.8.4.4 as a DNS resolver.

   $ openstack subnet create --network provider \
     --allocation-pool start=203.0.113.101,end=203.0.113.250 \
     --dns-nameserver 8.8.4.4 --gateway 203.0.113.1 \
     --subnet-range 203.0.113.0/24 provider
   
   Created a new subnet:
   +-------------------+--------------------------------------+
   | Field             | Value                                |
   +-------------------+--------------------------------------+
   | allocation_pools  | 203.0.113.101-203.0.113.250          |
   | cidr              | 203.0.113.0/24                       |
   | created_at        | 2017-03-29T05:48:29Z                 |
   | description       |                                      |
   | dns_nameservers   | 8.8.4.4                              |
   | enable_dhcp       | True                                 |
   | gateway_ip        | 203.0.113.1                          |
   | host_routes       |                                      |
   | id                | e84b4972-c7fc-4ce9-9742-fdc845196ac5 |
   | ip_version        | 4                                    |
   | ipv6_address_mode | None                                 |
   | ipv6_ra_mode      | None                                 |
   | name              | provider                             |
   | network_id        | 1f816a46-7c3f-4ccf-8bf3-fe0807ddff8d |
   | project_id        | 496efd248b0c46d3b80de60a309177b5     |
   | revision_number   | 2                                    |
   | segment_id        | None                                 |
   | service_types     |                                      |
   | subnetpool_id     | None                                 |
   | updated_at        | 2017-03-29T05:48:29Z                 |
   +-------------------+--------------------------------------+
   

Return to Launch an instance - Create virtual networks.