Virtual network devices

OpenStack is responsible for configuring and managing many different types of virtual and physical network devices and technologies across the cloud infrastructure.

Virtual network interfaces

OpenStack uses the libvirt KVM/QEMU driver to provide platform virtualization in default Nova configurations. When an instance is booted for the first time, Neutron assigns a virtual port to each network interface of the instance. KVM creates a virtual network interface called a tap interface on the compute node hosting the instance. The tap interface corresponds directly to a network interface within the guest instance. Through the use of a bridge, the host can expose the guest instance to a physical network.

Tip

In OpenStack, the name of a tap interface associated with an instance corresponds to the Neutron port UUID, or unique identifier, which the instance is plugged into.

Virtual network switches

Neutron supports many types of virtual and physical switches and includes built-in...