Glossary

Much networking and OpenFlow specific terminology was, and continue to be, thrown around — This is where they ultimately end up. As of now, alphabetical order to the best of ability.

OpenFlow terms

• Datapath - OpenFlow term for a OpenFlow device.

• Datapath Identifier (dpid) - A 12-digit, hexadecimal number used to identify a virtual switch.

• flow - Instructions generated by the controller that specify actions to be taken on packets based on their headers. These are summarized into flow tables on the switch.

• Legacy VLANs - OpenFlow term for regular VLANs.

• Network Operating System (NOS) - NOX terminology for software that allows administration to monitor, manage, and configure a network as if it is a centralized entity.

• OpenFlow VLANs - legacy VLANs on which the virtual switches will run as overlay infrastructure.

• Virtual switches - Switches that use OpenFlow protocol to communicate with a Controller and process packets according to flow tables. They are OpenFlow implementations of overlay networks on switches identified by the VLAN ID and the the 12-digit dpid (Datapath identifier).

Plain vanilla networking

• Dot1Q (802.1) - A standard that provides identification of VLANs on trunk connections so they can communicate with others. A better definition: ​http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.1Q

• PVST+ - A Cisco- proprietary implementation of spanning-tree on VLANs also configured by default in the IP8800

• VLAN - A software based construct that groups hosts into the same broadcast domain based on MAC address.

• Native VLAN - A VLAN whose frames remain as normal (native) Ethernet frames on the trunk. On the IP8800, it also refers to the virtual interface that allows you to assign an IP address to a VLAN.

• VLAN ID - A unique identifier given to VLANs when Dot1Q is used.