OpenStack Networking Essentials

Key Features

• Deploy an all-in-one cloud based on OpenStack Liberty (2015.2) using RDO
• Learn the fundamentals of the Neutron API including networks, subnets, and ports, and how to manage these resources in the cloud
• Build simple virtual network infrastructures in the cloud

Book Description

The OpenStack Networking API offers users the ability to create and manage both basic and complex network architectures that blend the virtual and physical network infrastructure.

This book kicks off by describing various components of Openstack Neutron and installing Ubuntu OpenStack based on Canonical's process. Further on, you will use various methods to interface with Neutron to create and manage network resources. You will also get to grips with the relationship between ports, networks, and subnets through diagrams and explanations, and see how the logical components are implemented via plugins and agents.

Moving forward, you will learn how virtual switches are implemented and how to build Neutron routers. You will also configure networks, subnets, and routers to provide connectivity to instances using simple examples. At the end, you will configure and manage security groups, and will observe how these rules translate to iptables rules on the host machines.

By the end of the book, you will be able to build basic network architectures using Neutron networks and routers in no time.

What you will learn

• Install the latest Liberty (2015.2) release of OpenStack using RDO in VirtualBox
• Discover the basics of the Neutron API, including networks, subnets, and ports
• Interact with Neutron using the CLI and Horizon dashboard
• Create networks and subnets that provide connectivity to instances
• Implement software routers that connect networks and provide network address translation
• Secure instances using Neutron's security group functionality

About the Author

James Denton has more than 15 years of experience in system administration and networking and has been deploying, operating, and maintaining OpenStack clouds since late 2012. He is a Principal Architect at Rackspace, and prior to joining the Rackspace Private Cloud team, he spent 5 years as an enterprise network security engineer. James has a bachelor's degree in business management, with a focus on computer information systems, from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his wife and son and camping in the Texas hill country.

Table of Contents

1. OpenStack Networking Components – an Overview
2. Installing OpenStack Using RDO
3. Neutron API Basics
4. Interfacing with Neutron
5. Switching
6. Routing
7. Building Networks and Routers
8. Security Group Fundamentals
9. Configuring VirtualBox