HP VAN SDN Controller Administrator Guide v3

5 Hybrid mode for controlling packet-forwarding
5.1 Overview
The hybrid mode setting determines which packet-forwarding decisions will be made by controlled
OpenFlow switches and which of these decisions will be made by the controller itself.
• If hybrid mode is enabled (the default setting), the controller delegates normal packet forwarding
to the controlled switches, but overrides these switches for non-standard packet-forwarding
decisions required by installed applications for specific packet types. In this state the controller
relies on the controlled switches to resolve loops, and determines forwarding paths by using
traditional networking mechanisms (such as STP, OSPF).
• If hybrid mode is disabled, the controller makes the forwarding decisions for all packets in
the OpenFlow-controlled network. In this state, the controller resolves network loops and
determines forwarding paths.
Managing hybrid mode includes the following:
1. Viewing and (if needed) changing the hybrid mode configuration.
2. Coordinating the controller hybrid mode with the OpenFlow switch settings.
NOTE: In all cases, the controller only monitors or directs packets within OpenFlow instances.
The controller cannot direct or monitor packets outside of OpenFlow instances.
NOTE: Controller software release 2.2.x does not support hybrid mode on Comware switches.
For information on controller OpenFlow hardware support, see the section titled "Supported network
switches" in the HP VAN SDN Controller and Applications Support Matrix.
5.2 Viewing and changing the hybrid mode configuration
1. Start the web interface on the controller.
2. Click on the Configurations tab.
3. Select the com.hp.sdn.ctl.of.impl.ControllerManager component.
4. Click on the Modify key.
5. Select the hybrid mode Value field.
5.1 Overview 75