---
name: "libvdeplug_switch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "vdeplug"
version: "4.0.1-5.1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/libvdeplug_switch"
---

# libvdeplug\_switch(1)

multiplexing vdeplug module: switch

## NAME

libvdeplug\_switch - multiplexing vdeplug module: switch

## SYNOPSIS

libvdeplug\_switch.so

## DESCRIPTION

This is a libvdeplug multiplex module implementing a vde switch.

This module of libvdeplug4 can be used in any program supporting vde like **vde\_plug**, **kvm**, **qemu**, **user-mode-linux** and **virtualbox**.

The vde\_plug\_url syntax of this module is the following:

**switch://**\[*path*\]\
 **switch://**\[*path*\]**\[**\[*OPTION*\]\[**/***OPTION*\]\[**/***OPTION*\]...**\]**\

If *path* is omitted the path of the switch is /tmp/vdenode\_$USERNAME (e.g. /tmp/vdenode\_john if the username is john).

This switch supports 801.1Q vlan as a trunk switch, i.e. all the VLAN tagged packets are forwarded as such. The forwarding table uses a key including both the MAC address and th VLAN id.

## OPTIONS

- **hashsize=***NUM*

  *set the size of the forwarding hash table. (default value 256)*

- **expiretime=***SECONDS*

  *set the expire time of the forwarding table entries. (default value 120)*

- **hashseed=***NUM*

  *set a hash seed, in case the hash function generates too many collisions.*

- **mode=***MODE*

  *define the permissions for the switch (see chmod). MODE is an octal number.* *The standard permission mask is: 0600 (only processes owning to the same user can join the network).*

- **dirmode=***DIRMODE*

  *define the permissions for the switch control directory(see chmod). MODE is an octal number.* *If omitted, is computed from mode.*

- **grp=***GROUP*

  *define the group ownership of the switch.*

## EXAMPLES

**switch:///tmp/switch**\
 *Other virtual machines, namespaces or vde\_plug can join this switch using* **vde:///tmp/switch** or simply **/tmp/switch**\
 **switch:///tmp/switch\[mode=0666/hashsize=1024\]**\
 It is the same switch, but everybody is allowed to connect their processes and the hash table has 1024 entries.\
 The null plug can be used to create a stand-alone vde switch:\
 **vde\_plug null:// switch:///tmp/myswitch**\
 The following command creates a switch connected to a tap virtual interface\
 **vde\_plug tap://mytap switch:///tmp/myswitch**

## NOTICE

Virtual Distributed Ethernet is not related in any way with www.vde.com ("Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik" i.e. the German "Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies").

## SEE ALSO

[**vde\_plug**(1)](/vde_plug/1.md),