Configuring the ML2 networking plugin

Before you can consume the Neutron API and build networking resources, a networking plugin must be defined and configured. The remainder of this chapter is dedicated to providing instructions on installing and configuring the ML2 plugin and LinuxBridge or Open vSwitch drivers and respective network agents.

Prior to the ML2 plugin and a common database schema, the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch plugins could not easily interoperate with one another. When using the ML2 plugin, it is possible to use both the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch drivers simultaneously within an environment but on different hosts. Some agents, such as the L3 and DHCP agents, require a network driver to be defined as part of their configuration. These changes will be highlighted as part of the configuration outlined in this chapter.

Configuring the LinuxBridge and Open vSwitch drivers for simultaneous operation is outside the scope of this book. For simplicity, I recommend deploying the...