10
Configuring controllers for an OpenFlow switch
Configuring controllers and main connections
An OpenFlow switch supports up to 64 controllers. However, the OpenFlow channel between the
OpenFlow switch and each controller can have only one main connection. The main connection
processes control messages to complete tasks such as deploying entries, obtaining data, and sending
information. The main connection must be a reliable connection using TCP or SSL.
To specify a controller for an OpenFlow switch and configure the main connection to the controller:
Step Command
Remarks
1.
Enter system view.
system-view
N/A
2.
Enter OpenFlow instance
view.
openflow instance
instance-id
N/A
3.
Specify a controller and
configure the main connection
to the controller.
controller
id
address
{
ip
ip-address
|
ipv6
ipv6-address
}
[
port
port-number
] [
ssl
ssl-policy-name
]
By default, an OpenFlow instance
is not configured with any main
connection.
Setting the connection interruption mode
An OpenFlow switch is set to either of the following modes when it is disconnected from all controllers:
•
Secure
—In this mode, the OpenFlow switch forwards traffic based on flow tables and does not
delete unexpired flow entries.
•
Standalone
—The OpenFlow switch uses the normal forwarding process.
The OpenFlow switch forwards traffic based on flow tables when it reconnects to a controller successfully.
To set the connection interruption mode for an OpenFlow switch:
Step Command
Remarks
1.
Enter system view.
system-view
N/A
2.
Enter OpenFlow instance
view.
openflow instance
instance-id
N/A
3.
Set the connection
interruption mode.
fail-open mode
{
secure
|
standalone
}
By default, the
secure
mode is
used.
Setting OpenFlow timers
An OpenFlow switch supports the following timers:
•
Connection detection interval
—Interval at which the OpenFlow switch sends an Echo Request
message to a controller. When the OpenFlow switch receives no Echo Reply message within three
connection detection intervals, the OpenFlow switch is disconnected from the controller.
