5
OpenFlow instance
You can configure one or more OpenFlow instances on the same device. A controller considers each
OpenFlow instance as a separate OpenFlow switch and deploys forwarding instructions to it.
In this chapter, an OpenFlow switch is the same as an OpenFlow instance, unless otherwise specified.
Associated VLAN
When an OpenFlow instance is associated with VLANs, the flow tables take effect on packets only within
these VLANs.
Activation and reactivation
The configurations for an OpenFlow instance take effect only after the OpenFlow instance is activated.
The controller can deploy flow entries to an OpenFlow instance only after the OpenFlow instance reports
the following information to the controller:
•
Support capabilities for OpenFlow.
•
Ports that belongs to the OpenFlow instance.
An activated OpenFlow instance need be reactivated when any of the OpenFlow instance configurations
is changed.
After reactivation, the OpenFlow instance is disconnected from all controllers and reconnects to them.
OpenFlow instance port
An OpenFlow instance sends information about the following ports to the controller:
•
Physical ports.
•
Logical ports.
•
Reserved ports of the
Local
type.
If the loosen mode is used for an OpenFlow instance associated with VLANs, a port belongs to the
OpenFlow instance when associated VLANs overlap with the port's allowed VLANs. Otherwise, a port
belongs to the OpenFlow instance only when associated VLANs are within the port's allowed VLAN list.
Protocols and standards
OpenFlow Switch Specification Version 1.3.1
