Learning OpenStack Networking - Third Edition

Mechanism drivers

An ML2 Mechanism driver is responsible for taking information established by the type driver and ensuring that it is properly implemented. Multiple Mechanism drivers can be configured to operate simultaneously, and can be described using three types of models:

• Agent-based: Includes Linux bridge, Open vSwitch, SR-IOV, and others
• Controller-based: Includes Juniper Contrail, Tungsten Fabric, OVN, Cisco ACI, VMWare NSX, and others
• Top-of-Rack: Includes Cisco Nexus, Arista, Mellanox, and others

Mechanism drivers to be discussed in this book include the following:

• Linux bridge
• Open vSwitch
• L2 population

The Linux bridge and Open vSwitch ML2 Mechanism drivers are used to configure their respective virtual switching technologies ...