Learning OpenStack Networking {Neutron}

by James Denton

Wield the power of OpenStack Neutron networking to bring network infrastructure and capabilities to your cloud

About This Book This completely up-to-date edition will show you how to deploy a cloud on OpenStack using community-driven processes. It includes rich examples that will help you understand complex networking topics with ease Understand every aspect of designing, creating, customizing, and maintaining the core network foundation of an OpenStack cloud using OpenStack Neutron all in one book Written by best-selling author James Denton, who has more than 15 years of experience in system administration and networking. James has experience of deploying, operating, and maintaining OpenStack clouds and has worked with top enterprises and organizations Who This Book Is For

If you are an OpenStack-based cloud operator and administrator who is new to Neutron networking and wants to build your very own OpenStack cloud, then this book is for you.

Prior networking experience and a physical server and network infrastructure is recommended to follow along with concepts demonstrated in the book.

What You Will Learn Architect and install the latest release of OpenStack on Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS Review the components of OpenStack networking, including plugins, agents, and services, and learn how they work together to coordinate network operations Build a virtual switching infrastructure using reference architectures based on ML2 + Open vSwitch or ML2 + LinuxBridge Create networks, subnets, and routers that connect virtual machine instances to the network Deploy highly available routers using DVR or VRRP-based methods Scale your application with haproxy and Load Balancing as-a-Service Implement port and router-level security using Security Groups and Firewall as-a-Service Provide connectivity to tenant networks with Virtual Private Networking as-a-Service (VPNaaS) Find out how to manage OpenStack networking resources using CLI and GUI-driven methods In Detail

OpenStack Neutron is an OpenStack component that provides networking as a service for other OpenStack services to architect networks and create virtual machines through its API. This API lets you define network connectivity in order to leverage network capabilities to cloud deployments.

Through this practical book, you will build a strong foundational knowledge of Neutron, and will architect and build an OpenStack cloud using advanced networking features.

We start with an introduction to OpenStack Neutron and its various components, including virtual switching, routing, FWaaS, VPNaaS, and LBaaS. You'll also get hands-on by installing OpenStack and Neutron and its components, and use agents and plugins to orchestrate network connectivity and build a virtual switching infrastructure.

Moving on, you'll get to grips with the HA routing capabilities utilizing VRRP and distributed virtual routers in Neutron. You'll also discover load balancing fundamentals, including the difference between nodes, pools, pool members, and virtual IPs. You'll discover the purpose of security groups and learn how to apply the security concept to your cloud/tenant/instance.

Finally, you'll configure virtual private networks that will allow you to avoid the use of SNAT and floating IPs when connecting to remote networks.

Genres: Nonfiction

839 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With so many moving parts to OpenStack, it can be difficult to determine what to start learning. I’ve seen guides that, while decent enough, walk you through standing up the infrastructure without really helping you understand what it is you just did.

In my mind, this manual takes a better approach by focusing on just one of the projects and giving it thorough treatment although, the author does work through enough of the other OpenStack components to get you going.

When he does get to the main course, the author barely leaves anything out. With the vArmours and F5s of the world delivering strong FWaaS and LBaaS respectively, the detail in which these topics are covered will leave you ready to integrate almost immediately.

However, you’ll certainly want to bring your Linux admin experience with you (Ubuntu fans should note that this is a CentOS-based cookbook), as well as a firm grasp on networking fundamentals. With these in your back pocket, the material in this book becomes very accessible and immediately applicable.

My only quarrel, if anything, is that I feel the author could have spent more time discussing how to troubleshoot this. Of course, this is mitigated by the fact that standard networking rules apply once you stand everything up. That and your newly acquired understanding of how it all comes together should help you intuit where to start looking for answers.

[Ahmed Mostafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books in the market that talks about neutron
The right amount of details that won't get you saturated and won't leave you unsatisfied ..