Open vSwitch as Virtual Switch for VM Environments
The Open vSwitch open source project has announced development of a sofware switch for virtual environments.
The goal of the Open vSwitch project is development of a production-ready nework switch for virtual environments that is extensible and supports standard management interfaces such as NetFlow, RSPAN, ERSPAN and Cisco IOS-like CLIs. A further requirement is for the software to be distributable across different physical servers, similar to proprietary products such as VMWare's vswitch and Cisco's Nexus 1000v.
A first Open vSwitch version is already available as source code under Apache 2 licensing. Developers report that "the bulk of the code is written in platform-independent C and is easily ported to other environments." Already supported are the virtualization technologies Xen/XenServer, KVM and VirtualBox.
The project website lists a series of currently supported features. Among them, VLAN tagging per 802.1q, VM policing, NIC bonding, kernel-based forwarding and support of the OpenFlow standard. The project page also lists the features under development.
The Virtualization.info portal puts Citrix as the motivating force behind the project. The source code meanwhile has references to the Palo Alto CA network company Nicira.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.