The Nuage VSP Plugin

Introduction

The Nuage VSP plugin is the Nuage Networks SDN implementation in CloudStack, which integrates with Release 3.2 of the Nuage Networks Virtualized Services Platform. The plugin can be used by CloudStack to leverage the scalability and rich features of Advanced SDN and to implement:

  • Isolated Guest Networks
  • Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs)
  • Shared Networks

For more information about Nuage Networks, visit www.nuagenetworks.net.

Features

The following table lists the CloudStack network services provided by the Nuage VSP Plugin.

Network Service CloudStack version
Virtual Networking >= 4.5
VPC >= 4.5
Source NAT >= 4.5
Static NAT >= 4.5
Firewall >= 4.5
Network ACL >= 4.5
User Data (*) >= 4.7

(*) Through the use of VR Provider

Table: Supported Services

Note

The Virtual Networking service was originally called ‘Connectivity’ in CloudStack 4.0

The following hypervisors are supported by the Nuage VSP Plugin.

Hypervisor CloudStack version
XenServer >= 4.5
VmWare ESXi >= 4.5
KVM >= 4.7

Table: Supported Hypervisors

Configuring the Nuage-VSP Plugin

Prerequisites

Before building and using the Nuage plugin for ACS 4.7, verify that the platform you intend to use is supported.

Note

Only the release notes for Nuage VSP contain the most up-to-date information on supported versions. Please check them to verify that the information below is current.

Supported Versions

  • Nuage VSP 3.2
  • Apache CloudStack 4.7
  • Citrix XenServer 6.2
  • KVM on Enterprise Linux 7.x

Required VSD Configuration

When configuring Nuage VSP as the network service provider, Nuage VSD must be added as a CSP user, and this user must be added to the CMS group. See Enabling the Service Provider.

Zone Configuration

Select VSP Isolation Method During Zone Creation

The Nuage VSP solution is NOT supported in Basic zone provisioning mode.

  1. When adding a zone, the ACS administrator should select Advanced mode in the zone wizard.
  2. When laying out the physical network configuration during zone provisioning, the Guest network traffic should be put in a separate physical network of its own.
  3. This physical network carrying the Guest traffic should have VSP as the Isolation Method.

Update Traffic Labels

Guest Traffic Type

Select Edit on the Guest traffic type panel and update the Traffic Label:

  • For XenServer, use nuageManagedNetwork as the XenServer Traffic Label.
  • For KVM, use alubr0 as the KVM Traffic Label.

Enabling the Service Provider

Nuage VSP must be added to ACS as a Network Service Provider before it can be used.

Step 1:

Select Infrastructure > Zone > [zone name] > Physical Network 2 > Configure Network Service Providers > Nuage Vsp > +, which brings up the Add Nuage Virtualized Services Directory (VSD) panel.
Step 2:

Enter the VSD Host Name, Username and Password that was previously created.
Step 3:

Specify the VSD API version by entering the API version in the appropriate field (format: v3_2).
Step 4:

EITHER Add Nuage VSD and click the OK button,

OR use API calls to configure Nuage VSP as the Network Provider; see Nuage VSD API in the Appendix of the current document.
Step 5:

Go to Infrastructure > Zones > [zone name] > Physical Network 2 > Network Service Providers > Nuage Vsp > Devices > Details tab as shown in the figure “Enabling Nuage VSP” below. This indicates the state of Nuage VSP. Enable Nuage VSP by clicking Enable.
Step 6:

(Optional) View the Nuage VSP status on the list of Network Service Providers on the Infrastructure > Zones > [zone name] > Physical Network 2 > Network Service Providers page;

Network Offerings

There are two types of Network Offerings that can be created:

  • If Isolated Networks are required, then create a network offering for use with Isolated Networks.
  • If VPC deployments are required, then create a new network offering for that.

Create and Enable Isolated Network Offering

  1. Select Service Offerings > Select Offering: Network Offerings > Add network offering.
  2. In the Supported Services field select each of the following services - DHCP, Firewall, Source NAT, Static NAT, Virtual Networking and select Nuage VSP as the Provider.
  3. If User Data service is desired in an Isolated Network, choose VirtualRouter as the User Data provider. Per Zone MUST be selected for the Source NAT Type for the Source NAT service.
  4. Click OK to create the offering.
  5. After the offering has been successfully created, enable it from the Service Offerings list.

Create and Enable VPC Network Offering

  1. Select Service Offerings > Select Offering: Network Offerings > Add network offering.
  2. Select the VPC checkbox. In the Supported Services field, select each of the following services and then select Nuage VSP as the Provider.
    • DHCP
    • Source NAT
    • Static NAT
    • Virtual Networking
  3. (Optional) Select VpcVirtualRouter as the UserData provider if password reset or metadata feature is desired.
  4. (Optional) If network ACL is required, select NuageVsp as the network ACL provider.
    1. Ensure the Persistent checkbox is selected.
    2. As the Supported Source NAT Type, select Per Zone.
  5. After the offering has been successfully created, enable it from the Service Offerings list.

Dedicated Features That Come with Nuage VSP Plugin

Domain Template Support for CloudStack in VSP

Overview

VSP’s CloudStack plugin can be configured to use a VSD template when instantiating domains. The parameters and abstractions contained in the template are reused every time a new domain instance is created in CloudStack, and thus all the constructs defined in the template are available to the domain.

Configuration

Details of the global variables that have been added to support domain templates are listed below:

nuagevsp.isolatedntwk.domaintemplate.name:
 (Type: string) Name of the template to use for creation of domains for isolated networks.
nuagevsp.vpc.domaintemplate.name:
 (Type: boolean) Name of the template to use for creation of domains for VPC.

To configure a domain template for use by CloudStack, use VSD to create a domain template, using the global CloudStack parameters listed above.

Note

There will be only a single domain instance for nuagevsp.vpc.domaintemplate.name.

Networks created in CloudStack will then use domain instances created from the template to which the name points.

Appendix

Nuage VSD API

To add Nuage VSP as Network Service Provider,

  1. Add the specified network service provider:
cloudmonkey add networkserviceprovider name=NuageVsp physicalnetworkid=<physicalNetworkId>
  1. Add the specified Nuage VSD:
cloudmonkey add nuagevspdevice physicalnetworkid=<physicalNetworkId> hostname=<hostnameOfNuageVsp> username=<usernameOfNuageVspUser> password=<passwordOfNuageVspUser> port=<portUsedByNuageVsp> apiversion=<apiVersionOfNuageVsp> retrycount=<nrOfRetriesOnFailure> retryinterval=<intervalBetweenRetries>