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Getting Started With OpenSolaris Project Crossbow or Network Virtualization

Nagendra Nagarajayya, July 2008

Introduction

This paper describes OpenSolaris Project Crossbow network virtualization technology, which can be used to simulate an entire network on a single host by "building a network in a box." The simulated network can be used to consolidate a cluster of servers onto a single host. Using Crossbow technology, you can create virtual NICs (VNICs) and switches; manage bandwidth across VNICs, Solaris Containers, and virtual machines; provide quality of service (QoS); and monitor the performance and status of the virtualized network.

For more details, see the list of contents below.

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Contents

• Introduction to Virtualization
  • Network Virtualization
• 1. Installing and Configuring Network Virtualization on OpenSolaris
  • 1.1 Configuring an Etherstub
  • 1.2 Configuring a VNIC
  • 1.3 Configuring a Solaris Zone With a VNIC
• 2. Managing Bandwidth and Policies
  • 2.1 Creating a Flow
    • 2.1.1. Example 1: Creating a Flow by Adding Bandwidth Resource Control
    • 2.1.2. Example 2: Creating a Flow With Limited Bandwidth
• 3. Monitoring VNIC Performance
  • 3.1 flowadm show-flow Command
  • 3.2 acctadm Command
• 4. Uses of Network Virtualization
  • 4.1 Building a Network in a Computer
    • 4.1.1 Steps to Simulate the Network on a Computer
    • 4.1.2 Testing the "Network in a Computer Configuration" as a Router
    • 4.1.3 Testing the "Network in a Computer Configuration" as a Firewall/NAT
• 5. Conclusion
• 6. Acknowledgments
• 7. References

For More Information

Here are additional Sun resources related to virtualization:

• Sun training courses at http://www.sun.com/training/, for example:
  • Solaris 10 Containers (SA-230-S10, WS-2260-S10, and VC-SA-230-S10)
  • Sun Virtualization: Solaris 10 Containers Administration (SA-355-S10)
• Support:
  • Register your Sun gear
  • Services
  • SunSolve Online
• Documentation at http://docs.sun.com, such as:
  • System Administration Guide: Virtualization Using the Solaris Operating System
  • System Administration Guide: Solaris Containers-Resource Management and Solaris Zones
  • Solaris Containers: Resource Management and Solaris Zones Developer's Guide
• Wikis:
  • Sun xVM wiki
  • BluePrints wiki
  • BigAdmin wiki's Virtualization page
• Related web sites and articles:
  • Virtualization Resources for System Administrators on the BigAdmin web site
  • Main Sun web page about virtualization and consolidation
  • Virtualization Learning Center
• Events of interest to users of Sun products
  • Worldwide developer events
  • Current events

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