Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard Release Notes, Release 4.3.1
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This document provides important information regarding the Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard release 4.3. This integration enables OpenStack workflows to configure fabric networking through the Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller component of Nexus Dashboard. It leverages the Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Modular Layer 2 (ML2) Mechanism Driver and Topology Agents to provide seamless connectivity between virtualized compute instances and network switches, allowing OpenStack to program fabric switches based on user-defined network resources.
Nexus Dashboard release 4.3 introduces hardware-accelerated Layer 3 forwarding through the new nd network type, address scope-to-VRF mapping for granular network isolation, and a network deploy-status extension for monitoring and retrying ND network deployments.
New features and enhancements
This release of the Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard offers the following key features and benefits:
● Hardware -accelerated Layer 3 forwarding through the new nd network type: Introduces a new nd network type and corresponding type driver that enables hardware-accelerated Layer 3 forwarding through NDFC. The integration uses VXLAN overlay between leaf and spine switches and VLAN encapsulation between compute hosts and directly connected switches via Hierarchical Port Binding (HPB).
● Hierarchical Port Binding (HPB): Enables dynamic allocation of VLAN segments for nd type networks, allowing the OVN mechanism driver to complete port binding using VLAN encapsulation between compute hosts and connected fabric switches.
● Network isolation using address scopes: Maps OpenStack address scopes to specific VRFs in Nexus Dashboard with custom VRF names, enabling multiple VRFs per OpenStack project for granular per-project or per-address-scope network isolation.
● Network deploy robustness with nd-status: Adds a new network deploy-status extension that provides real-time deployment status (SUCCESS, FAILED, or None), automatic retry on failure, and a periodic poller that reconciles deploy state with NDFC. Administrators can also trigger a manual redeploy using openstack network set --nd-status SYNC
● Configurable Layer 3 forwarding for VLAN networks: Introduces the new vlan_hardware_l3 parameter, allowing administrators to choose between hardware-accelerated Layer 3 forwarding through NDFC (default) and software-based Layer 3 forwarding through OVN on VLAN networks. This enables both hardware-accelerated nd networks and software-routed VLAN networks to coexist in the same OpenStack cloud.
● Layer 3 forwarding on border leaf switches: Adds the new enable_l3_on_border parameter, extending hardware-accelerated Layer 3 forwarding capabilities to border leaf switches in the fabric.
For detailed step-by-step instructions on installation and configuration, see Cisco OpenStack Integration
for Nexus Dashboard 4.3 – Installation Guide.
Supported networking-cisco tag
For this release, ensure you use the networking-cisco tag version 10.1.0. This tag corresponds to the OpenStack Epoxy(2025.1) release and is validated for compatibility with Nexus Dashboard 4.3. For detailed instructions on cloning the repository and checking out the appropriate tag, see “Creating and Installing OpenStack Packages for Nexus Dashboard” section in the Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard 4.3 – Installation Guide.
Key configuration updates
The Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard 4.3 – Installation Guide provides detailed steps for configuring the following:
● Neutron core plugin: Update /etc/neutron/neutron.conf to set core_plugin = nd_ml2, which enables support for the nd network type, address scope VRF extensions, and the nd-status network deploy extension.
● Neutron ML2 configuration on the controller node: Update /etc/neutron/plugins/ml2/ml2_conf.ini to add the nd type driver to type_drivers and tenant_network_types, add nd_extension_driver to extension_drivers, configure the [ndfc] mechanism driver, and define VLAN allocation ranges for each physnet.
● Keystone configuration: Update /etc/keystone/keystone.conf to configure the oslo_messaging_notifications section for the messaging bus used by the OpenStack cluster.
● Topology agent on compute nodes: Configure /etc/neutron/plugins/ml2/lldp.ini and update /etc/neutron/neutron.conf to enable and configure the topology agent service.
Upgrade process
Before performing an upgrade, ensure you back up your current configurations and database. Follow the same installation steps outlined in the Upgrading from ND 4.1 section of the Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard 4.3 – Installation Guide, making sure to use the latest version of the Cisco networking package. After completing the upgrade, conduct comprehensive testing to verify connectivity, ND network creation, address-scope VRF mapping, and nd-status reporting.
To see additional information about the caveats, click the bug ID to access the Bug Search Tool (BST). The “Exists In” column of the table lists the specific patches in which the issue exists.
To search for a bug ID within Cisco’s product documentation, enter the address bar of a web browser: <bug_number> site:cisco.com.
For example: CSCwo61222 site:cisco.com
There are no open issues for OpenStack integration for Nexus Dashboard release 4.3.
For additional information, see Cisco OpenStack Integration for Nexus Dashboard 4.3 – Installation
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