OpenStack Networking¶

OpenStack Networking (neutron) allows you to create and attach interface devices managed by other OpenStack services to networks. Plug-ins can be implemented to accommodate different networking equipment and software, providing flexibility to OpenStack architecture and deployment.

It includes the following components:

neutron-server

Accepts and routes API requests to the appropriate OpenStack Networking plug-in for action.

OpenStack Networking plug-ins and agents

Plugs and unplugs ports, creates networks or subnets, and provides IP addressing. These plug-ins and agents differ depending on the vendor and technologies used in the particular cloud. OpenStack Networking ships with plug-ins and agents for Cisco virtual and physical switches, NEC OpenFlow products, Open vSwitch, Linux bridging, and the VMware NSX product.

The common agents are L3 (layer 3), DHCP (dynamic host IP addressing), and a plug-in agent.

Messaging queue

Used by most OpenStack Networking installations to route information between the neutron-server and various agents. Also acts as a database to store networking state for particular plug-ins.

OpenStack Networking mainly interacts with OpenStack Compute to provide networks and connectivity for its instances.