---
name: "vde_switch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "vde2"
version: "2.3.3-10"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vde_switch"
---

# vde\_switch(1)

Virtual Distributed Ethernet switch

## NAME

vde\_switch - Virtual Distributed Ethernet switch

## SYNOPSIS

**vde\_switch** \[  **-hub** \]  \[  **-sock** *commdirpath* \]   \[  **-mod** *octal-mode* \]   \[  **-group** *NAME* \]   \[  **-tap** *interface* \]  \[ **-daemon** \]\

## DESCRIPTION

A **vde\_switch**  is a virtual switch for the vde architecture.\
 A vde network can include several vde\_switches running on different (real) computers. vde\_switches can be connected by vde cables (see **vde\_plug (1)** ).\
 Supported architecture for VDE end nodes include:  real linux boxes (through the tuntap interface), bochs, qemu and MPS virtual machines.\
 VDE is useful to create networks of heterogeneous virtual machines as well as as a general tunneling tool -- all the ethernet based protocols work by this kind of tunnel -- and also as a tool for mobility. In fact VDE creates an overlay network where users can keep their IP addresses despite of the change of IP addresses on the interfaces.

vde\_switch needs root privileges to open a tap interface, can be run by users when no -tap option is specified.

vde-2 has several features: VLAN, Fast Spanning Tree Protocol, command line management (on console for foreground switches, on a terminal for daemonized switches). If a vde\_switch run in foreground mode simply type return to have the prompt. For daemons there is the -M option to specify the management socket. Unixterm is the tool to start a terminal for the management. Type "help" at the prompt for a list of possible options.

## OPTIONS

- **-hub**

  turn off the switch engine. It operates as a hub.

- **-sock *commdirpath***

  specify the directory when comm socket are created. The default value is "/tmp/vde.ctl"

- **-mod *octalmode***

  specify the octal permissions for the comm sockets.

- **-group *NAME***

  specify the group owner for the comm socket. The default value is the current user's primary group

- **-tap *interface***

  connect the specified tuntap interface to this vde\_switch (needs root privileges) It is possible to specify several tap interfaces, comma separated.

- **-daemon**

  Run as a daemon. Use syslog for logging.

- **-f rcfile**

  rc file to set the initial switch configuration. This rc file has the same syntax of the command line interface.

- **-nostdin**

  Allow stdin to be closed.

- **-h**

  help. Please use it for a more complete list of options. vde\_switch is a modular program, options vary depending of the compiled-in modules.

## 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), [**vde\_plug2tap**(1)](/vde_plug2tap/1.md), [**vdeq**(1)](/vdeq/1.md), [**dpipe**(1)](/dpipe/1.md), [**unixterm**(1)](/unixterm/1.md).\

## AUTHOR

VDE is a project by Renzo Davoli \<renzo@cs.unibo.it\>\
 VDE started as an enhancement of uml\_switch by Jeff Dike and others. VDE-2 has been almost completely rewritten but maybe some statements come from the historical source. So, some copyright and thanks also for Dike&Co.