.TH VDE_SWITCH 1 "December 6, 2006" "Virtual Distributed Ethernet" .SH NAME vde_switch \- Virtual Distributed Ethernet switch .SH SYNOPSIS .B vde_switch [ .B \-hub ] [ .BI \-sock .I commdirpath ] [ .BI \-mod .I octal-mode ] [ .BI \-group .I NAME ] [ .BI \-tap .I interface ] [ .BI \-daemon ] .br .SH DESCRIPTION A \fBvde_switch\fP is a virtual switch for the vde architecture. .br A vde network can include several vde_switches running on different (real) computers. vde_switches can be connected by vde cables (see \fBvde_plug (1)\fP ). .br Supported architecture for VDE end nodes include: real linux boxes (through the tuntap interface), bochs, qemu and MPS virtual machines. .br VDE is useful to create networks of heterogeneous virtual machines as well as as a general tunneling tool -- all the ethernet based protocols work by this kind of tunnel -- and also as a tool for mobility. In fact VDE creates an overlay network where users can keep their IP addresses despite of the change of IP addresses on the interfaces. vde_switch needs root privileges to open a tap interface, can be run by users when no -tap option is specified. vde-2 has several features: VLAN, Fast Spanning Tree Protocol, command line management (on console for foreground switches, on a terminal for daemonized switches). If a vde_switch run in foreground mode simply type return to have the prompt. For daemons there is the -M option to specify the management socket. Unixterm is the tool to start a terminal for the management. Type "help" at the prompt for a list of possible options. .SH OPTIONS .TP .B \-hub turn off the switch engine. It operates as a hub. .TP .B \-sock "\fIcommdirpath\fP" specify the directory when comm socket are created. The default value is "/tmp/vde.ctl" .TP .B \-mod "\fIoctalmode\fP" specify the octal permissions for the comm sockets. .TP .B \-group "\fINAME\fP" specify the group owner for the comm socket. The default value is the current user's primary group .TP .B \-tap "\fIinterface\fP" connect the specified tuntap interface to this vde_switch (needs root privileges) It is possible to specify several tap interfaces, comma separated. .TP .B \-daemon Run as a daemon. Use syslog for logging. .TP .B \-f rcfile rc file to set the initial switch configuration. This rc file has the same syntax of the command line interface. .TP .B \-nostdin Allow stdin to be closed. .TP .B \-h help. Please use it for a more complete list of options. vde_switch is a modular program, options vary depending of the compiled-in modules. .SH NOTICE Virtual Distributed Ethernet is not related in any way with www.vde.com ("Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik" i.e. the German "Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies"). .SH SEE ALSO \fBvde_plug\fP(1), \fBvde_plug2tap\fP(1), \fBvdeq\fP(1), \fBdpipe\fP(1), \fBunixterm\fP(1). .br .SH AUTHOR VDE is a project by Renzo Davoli .br VDE started as an enhancement of uml_switch by Jeff Dike and others. VDE-2 has been almost completely rewritten but maybe some statements come from the historical source. So, some copyright and thanks also for Dike&Co.