ovsdb-tool(1) Open vSwitch Manual ovsdb-tool(1)
NAME
ovsdb-tool - Open vSwitch database management utility
SYNOPSIS
ovsdb-tool [options] create db schema
ovsdb-tool [options] compact db [target]
ovsdb-tool [options] convert db schema [target]
ovsdb-tool [options] needs-conversion db schema
ovsdb-tool [options] db-version db
ovsdb-tool [options] schema-version schema
ovsdb-tool [options] db-cksum db
ovsdb-tool [options] schema-cksum schema
ovsdb-tool [options] query db transaction
ovsdb-tool [options] transact db transaction
ovsdb-tool [options] [-m | --more]... show-log db
ovsdb-tool help
Logging options:
[-v[module[:facility[:level]]]]...
[--verbose[=module[:facility[:level]]]]...
[--log-file[=file]]
Common options:
[-h | --help] [-V | --version]
DESCRIPTION
The ovsdb-tool program is a command-line tool for managing Open vSwitch database (OVSDB) files. It does not interact directly with running
Open vSwitch database servers (instead, use ovsdb-client).
Basic Commands
create db schema
Reads an OVSDB schema from the file named schema and creates a new OVSDB database file named db using that schema. The new database
is initially empty. This command will not overwrite an existing db.
schema must contain an OVSDB schema in JSON format. Refer to the OVSDB specification for details.
compact db [target]
Reads db and writes a compacted version. If target is specified, the compacted version is written as a new file named target, which
must not already exist. If target is omitted, then the compacted version of the database replaces db in-place.
convert db schema [target]
Reads db, translating it into to the schema specified in schema, and writes out the new interpretation. If target is specified, the
translated version is written as a new file named target, which must not already exist. If target is omitted, then the translated
version of the database replaces db in-place.
This command can do simple ``upgrades'' and ``downgrades'' on a database's schema. The data in db must be valid when interpreted
under schema, with only one exception: data in db for tables and columns that do not exist in schema are ignored. Columns that
exist in schema but not in db are set to their default values. All of schema's constraints apply in full.
needs-conversion db schema
Reads the schema embedded in db and the standalone schema in schema and compares them. If the schemas are the same, prints no on
stdout; if they differ, print yes.
db-version db
schema-version schema
Prints the version number in the schema embedded within the database db or in the standalone schema schema on stdout. A schema ver-
sion number has the form x.y.z. See ovs-vswitchd.conf.db(5) for details.
Schema version numbers and Open vSwitch version numbers are independent.
If schema or db was created before schema versioning was introduced, then it will not have a version number and this command will
print a blank line.
db-cksum db
schema-cksum schema
Prints the checksum in the schema embedded within the database db or of the standalone schema schema on stdout.
If schema or db was created before schema checksums were introduced, then it will not have a checksum and this command will print a
blank line.
query db transaction
Opens db, executes transaction on it, and prints the results. The transaction must be a JSON array in the format of the params
array for the JSON-RPC transact method, as described in the OVSDB specification.
The db is opened for read-only access, so this command may safely run concurrently with other database activity, including
ovsdb-server and other database writers. The transaction may specify database modifications, but these will have no effect on db.
transact db transaction
Opens db, executes transaction on it, prints the results, and commits any changes to db. The transaction must be a JSON array in
the format of the params array for the JSON-RPC transact method, as described in the OVSDB specification.
The db is opened and locked for read/write access, so this command will fail if the database is opened for writing by any other
process, including ovsdb-server(1). Use ovsdb-client(1), instead, to write to a database that is served by ovsdb-server(1).
show-log db
Prints a summary of the records in db's log, including the time and date at which each database change occurred and any associated
comment. This may be useful for debugging.
To increase the verbosity of output, add -m (or --more) one or more times to the command line. With one -m, show-log prints a summary of
the records added, deleted, or modified by each transaction. With two -ms, show-log also prints the values of the columns modified by each
change to a record.
OPTIONS
Logging Options
-vmodule[:facility[:level]], --verbose=module[:facility[:level]]
Sets the logging level for module in facility to level:
o module may be any valid module name (as displayed by the --list action on ovs-appctl(8)), or the special name ANY to set the
logging levels for all modules.
o facility may be syslog, console, or file to set the levels for logging to the system log, the console, or a file respec-
tively, or ANY to set the logging levels for both facilities. If it is omitted, facility defaults to ANY.
Regardless of the log levels set for file, logging to a file will not take place unless --log-file is also specified (see
below).
o level must be one of off, emer, err, warn, info, or dbg, designating the minimum severity of a message for it to be logged.
If it is omitted, level defaults to dbg. See ovs-appctl(8) for a definition of each log level.
-v, --verbose
Sets the maximum logging verbosity level, equivalent to --verbose=ANY:ANY:dbg.
-vPATTERN:facility:pattern, --verbose=PATTERN:facility:pattern
Sets the log pattern for facility to pattern. Refer to ovs-appctl(8) for a description of the valid syntax for pattern.
--log-file[=file]
Enables logging to a file. If file is specified, then it is used as the exact name for the log file. The default log file name
used if file is omitted is /var/log/openvswitch/ovsdb-tool.log.
Other Options
-h, --help
Prints a brief help message to the console.
-V, --version
Prints version information to the console.
SEE ALSO
ovsdb-server(1), ovsdb-client(1), and the OVSDB specification.
Open vSwitch November 2009 ovsdb-tool(1)