2.4.1. Connection between different OpenStack cells

2.4.1.1. Description

There should be an API to manage the infrastructure-s networks between two OpenStack cells. (Note: In the Mitaka release of OpenStack cells v1 are considered as experimental, while cells v2 functionality is under implementation). Cells are considered to be problematic from maintainability perspective as the sub-cells are using only the internal message bus and there is no API (and CLI) to do maintenance actions in case of a network connectivity problem between the main cell and the sub cells.

The functionality behind the API depends on the underlying network providers (SDN controllers) and the networking setup. (For example OpenDaylight has an API to add new BGP neighbour.)

OpenStack Neutron should provide an abstracted API for this functionality what calls the underlying SDN controllers API.

2.4.1.2. Derrived Requirements

  • Possibility to define a remote and a local endpoint
  • As in case of cells the nova-api service is shared it should be possible to identify the cell in the API calls

2.4.1.2.1. Northbound API / Workflow

  • An infrastructure network management API is needed
  • API call to define the remote and local infrastructure endpoints
  • When the endpoints are created neutron is configured to use the new network.

2.4.1.2.2. Dependencies on compute services

None.

2.4.1.2.3. Data model objects

  • local and remote endpoint objects (Most probably IP addresses with some

additional properties).

2.4.1.3. Current implementation

Current OpenStack implementation provides no way to set up the underlay network connection. OpenStack Tricicle project [TRICICLE] has plans to build up inter datacenter L2 and L3 networks.

2.4.1.4. Gaps in the current solution

An infrastructure management API is missing from Neutron where the local and remote endpoints of the underlay network could be configured.