There are... I think at least three different dpctl programs (if you count ovs-dpctl), and I don't know which you're talking about. These commands generally go with a specific OpenFlow switch (the reference OpenFlow implementation, Open vSwitch, etc.), so they aren't particularly related to NOX. You might want to ask about them on the appropriate mailing list or whatever (maybe openflow-discuss?).
But at least in general, I think it's fair to say... dpctl is a command that works with a particular switch. I don't think any of them actually *use OpenFlow* to configure the switch -- they use some other switch-specific method, and probably can't even administer a remote switch. This contrasts with controllers that actually use OpenFlow to control a switch, like NOX. Since OpenFlow is a standardized protocol, NOX can control any switch that implements OpenFlow. Additionally, since OpenFlow works over TCP, NOX can control remote switches. And finally... NOX is a platform for writing programs that communicate with switches bidirectionally and can implement relatively complex behaviors, not just execute simple commands like you would do with dpctl. There is also at least one program which sort of straddles the line -- ovs-ofctl. This tool is part of Open vSwitch, and uses OpenFlow to send commands, receive statistics, etc. It is basically a very simple OpenFlow controller. I don't have much experience with it, but it should be possible to use it to do simple configuration of any OpenFlow-compliant switch. I hope that clears things up a bit. -- Murphy On Dec 28, 2011, at 4:45 PM, Vijay wrote: > Hi, > > I am new to the openflow protocol and trying to learn. From the previous > posts, I get that to install a flow on to a openflow switch we can use our > own python scripts on NOX and do it. But, I also find there is dpctl command > to do it. If I want to install a flow from controller remotely, I can do it > using python scripts. Can I do the same using the dpctl command ?? If yes, > how ? What is the difference between doing it using dpctl and using scripts > on NOX ?? > > I would really appreciate any help. > > Thanks, > Vijay > _______________________________________________ > nox-dev mailing list > nox-dev@noxrepo.org > http://noxrepo.org/mailman/listinfo/nox-dev _______________________________________________ nox-dev mailing list nox-dev@noxrepo.org http://noxrepo.org/mailman/listinfo/nox-dev
