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This section describes the VLAN Network configuration for the Abiquo Platform.

Virtual Networking Scenario

The Service Network is a VLAN network that includes the following virtual network types:

• Private networks within the virtual datacenter
• External networks belonging to enterprises that allow access to networks outside the virtual datacenter
• Unmanaged networks belonging to enterprises that are assigned IP addresses outside the Abiquo environment
• Public networks using public IP addresses for virtual machines

Virtual machines on internal private networks can only communicate within the virtual datacenter. A virtual gateway can be used for communication outside the virtual datacenter. Virtual machines on public, external and unmanaged networks can communicate outside the virtual datacenter. VLAN tags should be assigned by the Network Administrator and entered into Abiquo for each external, public and unmanaged network.

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How Abiquo Manages the Service Network

Abiquo management of the service network has two main aspects:

• VLANs: Virtual networks are separate VLANs to avoid network overlap and guarantee isolation.
  
  • The Network Administrator configures VLANs in the top-of-rack switches
    The Cloud Administrator enters the VLAN configuration configuration Administrator enters the VLAN configuration in Abiquo: Configuring the Service Network VLAN Tags in Abiquo

• ISC DHCP Servers: 
  
  • Abiquo remotely manages ISC DHCP Servers, so the DHCP server will always lease the right IP to the MAC address on a virtual machine.
  • When a Virtual Machine is deployed:
    
    • Abiquo generates a unique MAC address and binds it to an IP from the appropriate subnet and assigns it to the appropriate VLAN.  
  • The Network Administrator configures the DHCP server or relay server so that it:
    
    • listens to VLANs 
    • can be reached over a network from the virtual machines (on the service network) so they can obtain the IP leases
      
      • all tags for Abiquo managed networks (private, external, public) must be configured
  • Abiquo recommends the use of a DHCP relay server to provide VLAN support. See Configuring DHCP in the Administrator's Guide for information about how Abiquo uses DHCP.

Configuring the Service Network in the Switches

Do these steps for the following hardware to configure the service network.

• Top-of-Rack Switch
  
  1. Configure all ports in trunk mode 
  2. Configure one port in access mode for each public VLAN ID for each hypervisor
     
     1. In Abiquo, create a public VLAN with each public VLAN tag
  3. For each external/unmanaged VLAN, you can configure one port in access mode with the corresponding VLAN IDs for each hypervisor
     
     1. In Abiquo, the Cloud Administrator can create external/unmanaged VLANs and/or reserve tags for future requirements
        
        • Abiquo recommends that external/public/unmanaged networks use tags that are excluded from all racks' VLAN ranges
• Hypervisor Hosts
  
  1. Every hypervisor in the rack is connected to an 802.1Q trunk port in the top-of-rack switch. All virtual machines created in the hypervisors will have virtual NICs connected to virtual switches. One virtual switch should be created over each network interface on the hypervisor that is wired to a top-of-rack switch trunk port. Abiquo will create the necessary VLANs/VNICs in the virtual switches.
• DHCP Server
  
  1. The DHCP server (Abiquo Server) should also be connected to an 802.1Q trunk port in the top-of-rack switch. This is a requirement unless you are only using unmanaged networks. See Configuring DHCP
  2. When you configure the DHCP Relay Server (or DHCP Server) that is providing VLAN support, for each VLAN you will need to supply one IP address on the service network but outside of the virtual datacenter range.
     
     • Private, public and external networks require DHCP configuration