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Open Virtual Network

Open Virtual Network (OVN) provides logical network abstraction for virtual machine and container environments, for use by cloud management software.

Place
#4 of 18
Score
5.9
Open Virtual Network's website

What Open Virtual Network is

Open Virtual Network (OVN) provides logical network abstraction for virtual machine and container environments, for use by cloud management software. It translates virtual network configurations into OpenFlow and models networks through logical routers and switches. Listed features include distributed virtual routers and logical switches, access control lists, DHCP, and a DNS server. Logical networks use tunnels or other encapsulations to stay separate from physical and virtual networks, allowing address spaces to overlap. Virtual machines can migrate between physical machines without network disruption, while gateways connect tunnel-based logical networks to physical networks. Named cloud management examples include OpenStack Neutron’s ml2/ovn plugin and the ovn-kubernetes project. OVN runs entirely in userspace and requires no kernel modules. It is written in platform-independent C, and the generic build and installation guide covers Linux, FreeBSD, and NetBSD hosts. OVN is free open-source software under the Apache 2 license with an on-premises deployment model and centralized control plane. OpenSSL libssl is optional but recommended for secure connections to OVN database servers.

Good

  • Free open-source software under Apache 2
  • Includes logical routers, switches, ACLs, DHCP, and DNS
  • Virtual machines can migrate without network disruption
  • Runs in userspace without kernel modules

Watch out

  • Intended for use by cloud management software
  • Deployment model is on-premises
  • OpenSSL libssl is optional but recommended for secure database connections

Who it suits

OVN is intended for use by cloud management software in virtual machine and container environments. It suits teams building logical networks with routers, switches, access controls, and gateways.

Verdict

OVN offers logical networking features for cloud-managed virtual machine and container environments. Its on-premises model and intended audience make it most relevant to teams operating that kind of infrastructure.

Plans and prices

From Open Virtual Network's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
OVNFreeOpen source Apache 2 license

The facts

Each one read from Open Virtual Network's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Architecture
OVN translates virtual network configurations into OpenFlow and provides a higher-level abstraction based on logical routers and switches.checked 5 Oct 2026
Audience
OVN is intended to be used by cloud management software.checked 5 Oct 2026
Features
Listed features include distributed virtual routers, distributed logical switches, access control lists, DHCP, and a DNS server.checked 5 Oct 2026
Gateways
OVN provides gateways to connect tunnel-based logical networks to physical networks.checked 5 Oct 2026
Integrations
The architecture page names OpenStack Neutron’s ml2/ovn plugin and the ovn-kubernetes project as cloud management system examples.checked 5 Oct 2026
Mobility
Virtual machines in a logical network can migrate between physical machines without network disruption.checked 5 Oct 2026
Overlays
OVN logical networks use tunnels or other encapsulations to isolate them from physical and virtual networks, allowing address spaces to overlap.checked 5 Oct 2026
Purpose
OVN is a system that supports logical network abstraction in virtual machine and container environments.checked 5 Oct 2026
Release support
Standard term releases receive full bug-fix support for one year after initial release; LTS releases receive bug-fix support for two years and another year of critical and security fixes after a new LTS is released.checked 5 Oct 2026
Runtime
OVN is written in platform-independent C, runs entirely in userspace, and requires no kernel modules to be installed.checked 5 Oct 2026
Security
OVN’s security process directs vulnerability reports to the ovs-security mailing list for coordinated handling.checked 5 Oct 2026
Support
The installation guide directs users to GitHub issues or [email protected] to report problems.checked 5 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The generic build and installation guide covers Linux, FreeBSD, and NetBSD hosts.checked 5 Oct 2026
Transport security
OpenSSL libssl is optional but recommended for securely connecting OVN services to OVN database servers.checked 5 Oct 2026

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