Overview Open Virtual Switch

Open vSwitch is a virtual switch that enables network automation, while supporting standard management interfaces and protocols, like NetFlow. Open vSwitch also supports distribution across multiple physical servers.

In an Open vSwitch implementation, a database server and a switch daemon are used. The OVSDB protocol is used in a control cluster, along with other managers and controllers, to supply configuration information to the switch database server. Controllers use OpenFlow to identify details of the packet flows through the switch. Each switch may receive directions from multiple managers and controllers, and each manager and controller can direct multiple switches.