Configuring the service network for cloud tenant networks

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 VMs

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. VMs 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.

How Abiquo manages the service network

Abiquo can manage the service network with standard networking or software defined networking (SDN). In standard networking, Abiquo management of the service network includes the following:

• Virtual networks as separate VLANs
  
  • The Network Administrator configures VLANs in the top-of-rack switches
  • The Cloud Administrator enters the VLAN configuration in Abiquo. This is done when creating a rack, where the administrator supplies a range for private networks or when creating a network.
• When a VM 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
• Network assignment can use the following options
  
  • ISC DHCP Servers: Abiquo can remotely manage ISC DHCP Servers, so the DHCP server will always lease the right IP to the MAC address on a VM.
    
    • The Network Administrator configures the DHCP server or relay server so that it listens to VLANs and can be reached over a network from the VMs (on the service network) so they can obtain the IP leases
      • 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
  • Guest setup: Abiquo can inject the network connection into a VM using cloud-init or hypervisor tools, which requires templates that support these methods. Abiquo will use this option if the DHCP server is not found

Abiquo also has integrations with the popular VMware NSX system to offer SDN patterns.

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 VMs 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 using guest setup or 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