VDE_SWITCH
Section: User Commands (1)
Updated: December 6, 2006
Index
Return to Main Contents
NAME
vde_switch - Virtual Distributed Ethernet switch
SYNOPSIS
vde_switch
[
-hub
]
[
-sock
commdirpath
]
[
-mod
octal-mode
]
[
-group
NAME
]
[
-tap
interface
]
[
-daemon
]
DESCRIPTION
A
vde_switch
is a virtual switch for the vde architecture.
A vde network can include several vde_switches running on different
(real) computers.
vde_switches can be connected by vde cables (see
vde_plug (1)
).
Supported architecture for VDE end nodes include:
real linux boxes (through the tuntap interface),
bochs, qemu and MPS virtual machines.
VDE is useful to create networks of heterogeneous virtual machines as
well as as a general tunneling tool -- all the ethernet based protocols work
by this kind of tunnel -- and also as a tool for mobility.
In fact VDE creates an overlay network where users can keep their IP
addresses despite of the change of IP addresses on the interfaces.
vde_switch needs root privileges to open a tap interface, can be run by
users when no -tap option is specified.
vde-2 has several features: VLAN, Fast Spanning Tree Protocol, command line management
(on console for foreground switches, on a terminal for daemonized switches).
If a vde_switch run in foreground mode simply type return to have the prompt.
For daemons there is the -M option to specify the management socket. Unixterm is the tool
to start a terminal for the management.
Type "help" at the prompt for a list of possible options.
OPTIONS
- -hub
-
turn off the switch engine. It operates as a hub.
- -sock commdirpath
-
specify the directory when comm socket are created.
The default value is "/tmp/vde.ctl"
- -mod octalmode
-
specify the octal permissions for the comm sockets.
- -group NAME
-
specify the group owner for the comm socket.
The default value is the current user's primary group
- -tap interface
-
connect the specified tuntap interface to this vde_switch (needs root privileges)
It is possible to specify several tap interfaces, comma separated.
- -daemon
-
Run as a daemon. Use syslog for logging.
- -f rcfile
-
rc file to set the initial switch configuration. This rc file has the same syntax of
the command line interface.
- -h
-
help. Please use it for a more complete list of options.
vde_switch is a modular program, options vary depending of the compiled-in modules.
NOTICE
Virtual Distributed Ethernet is not related in any way with
www.vde.com ("Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik"
i.e. the German "Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information
Technologies").
SEE ALSO
vde_plug(1),
vde_plug2tap(1),
vdeq(1),
dpipe(1),
unixterm(1).
AUTHOR
VDE is a project by Renzo Davoli <
renzo@cs.unibo.it>
VDE started as an enhancement of uml_switch by Jeff Dike and others.
VDE-2 has been almost completely rewritten but maybe some statements
come from the historical source. So, some copyright and thanks also for Dike&Co.
Index
- NAME
-
- SYNOPSIS
-
- DESCRIPTION
-
- OPTIONS
-
- NOTICE
-
- SEE ALSO
-
- AUTHOR
-
|
|
- Running on 
-
:
: 