vde_plug - Virtual Distributed Ethernet plug (two plugs creates a vde cable)

vde_plug [ -g num ] [ socketpath ]

A vde_plug is a plug to be connected into a VDE switch. All the data that is catched by the plug is written in its stdout and everything from stdin is injected in the switch.

This tool has been designed to be used together with dpipe (1) to interconnect a second vde_plug to another switch, working as a virtual ethernet crossed cable between the two switches.

The command

dpipe vde_plug = vde_plug /tmp/vde2.ctl connects two local switches: the former is using the standard control socket /tmp/vde.ctl while the latter is using /tmp/vde2.ctl.

The command

dpipe vde_plug = ssh remote.machine.org vde_plug connects two remote switches. If the two vde_switches run as daemon and they are connected to tap interfaces a level 2 encrypted tunnel is established.

vde_plug can also be established as a login shell for users. The following command works as in the previous example

dpipe vde_plug = ssh vdeuser@remote.machine.org vde_plug where vdeuser is the user with vde_plug as standard shell. All the remote accesses are logged by syslog at the beginning and at the end of each session. Attempt to login without the command vde_plug at the end or trying to execute something else are blocked and the attempt is logged into syslog.

-g num ,

Several cables between two switches having the same num (>0 and <256) work concurrently. It means that packet can result as duplicate but no ARP table loops are generated. Is useful when vde is used for mobility. Several physical interfaces can be used at a time during handoffs to prevent hichups in connectivity.

socketpath ,

(This option can be also set as: -sock socketpath ) specify the UNIX socket to be used by local programs for joining the VDE. The default value is "/tmp/vde.ctl".

vde_switch(1), vdeq(1). dpipe(1).

VDE is a project by Renzo Davoli <renzo@cs.unibo.it>