Create and manage networks

The OpenStack Networking service provides a scalable system for managing the network connectivity within an OpenStack cloud deployment. It can easily and quickly react to changing network needs (for example, creating and assigning new IP addresses).

Networking in OpenStack is complex. This section provides the basic instructions for creating a network and a router. For detailed information about managing networks, refer to the OpenStack Administrator Guide.

Create a network

1. Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click Networks.

2. Click Create Network.

3. In the Create Network dialog box, specify the following values.

   Network tab

   Network Name: Specify a name to identify the network.

   Subnet tab

   Create Subnet: Select this check box to create a subnet

   You do not have to specify a subnet when you create a network, but if you do not specify a subnet, any attached instance receives an Error status.

   Subnet Name: Specify a name for the subnet.

   Network Address: Specify the IP address for the subnet.

   IP Version: Select IPv4 or IPv6.

   Gateway IP: Specify an IP address for a specific gateway. This parameter is optional.

   Disable Gateway: Select this check box to disable a gateway IP address.

   Subnet Detail tab

   Enable DHCP: Select this check box to enable DHCP.

   Allocation Pools Specify IP address pools.

   DNS Name Servers: Specify a name for the DNS server.

   Host Routes: Specify the IP address of host routes.

4. Click Create.

   The dashboard shows the network on the Networks tab.

Create a router

1. Log in to the dashboard, choose a project, and click Routers.

2. Click Create Router.

3. In the Create Router dialog box, specify a name for the router and click Create Router.

   The new router is now displayed in the Routers tab.

4. Click the new router’s Set Gateway button.

5. In the External Network field, specify the network to which the router will connect, and then click Set Gateway.

Connect a router

1. To connect a private network to the newly created router, on the Routers tab, click the name of the router.

2. On the Router Details page, click Add Interface.

3. In the Add Interface dialog box, select a Subnet.

4. Optionally, in the Add Interface dialog box, set an IP Address for the router interface for the selected subnet.

   If you choose not to set the IP Address value, then by default OpenStack Networking uses the first host IP address in the subnet.

   The Router Name and Router ID fields are automatically updated.

5. Click Add Interface.

You have successfully created the router. You can view the new topology from the Network Topology tab.