* [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations
@ 2026-11-03 18:33 Minxi Hou
2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 1/2] netlink: specs: add ovs_flow del and set operations Minxi Hou
` (2 more replies)
0 siblings, 3 replies; 4+ messages in thread
From: Minxi Hou @ 2026-11-03 18:33 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: netdev
Cc: Donald Hunter, Jakub Kicinski, David S . Miller, Eric Dumazet,
Paolo Abeni, Simon Horman
The ovs specs describe get and new but not the set and del commands the
kernel has registered since the families were added. This series adds
them and names the attributes each handler reads. Nothing here changes
how the kernel behaves.
v5:
https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/20261025103409.3519874-1-houminxi@gmail.com/
- ovs_flow dump gets a request list of its own with ufid-flags. It
shared the get list, which offered a key and a ufid the kernel
ignores on a dump. The reply is unchanged.
- The key, actions and ufid docs no longer claim those attributes are
always present, and say what the exceptions are: a ufid-identified
flow sends no key or actions when the request asked for them to be
left out, a dump leaves the actions out when they do not fit, and a
dump ignores the ufid. The same sentences in
include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h are updated to match, since the
spec text was copied from there.
- The key doc now says a get and a set need a key or a ufid, that a
new request needs a key, and that a del carrying neither flushes the
data path.
- The ovs_datapath new and set docs say per-cpu-pids takes effect only
when the same request sets OVS_DP_F_DISPATCH_UPCALL_PER_CPU in
user-features.
- The ovs_vport set doc says the vport is picked by name or by port
number, names the rejections in the order the kernel checks them,
and says upcall-pid is the only attribute that changes state.
- Rebased onto current net-next after the merge window.
v4:
https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/20261015024132.698658-1-houminxi@gmail.com/
- ovs_vport set lists port-no and ifindex. lookup_vport() finds a
vport by name or by port number, and returns -EOPNOTSUPP as soon as
it sees an ifindex, before the type or the options are looked at.
- ovs_datapath new lists masks-cache-size, per-cpu-pids and ifindex.
new calls ovs_dp_change(), which reads the first two, and reads
ifindex itself.
- ovs_flow get lists probe. ovs_flow_cmd_get() reads it to decide
whether to log.
- The key attribute doc now says a new request needs a key even when
it finds an existing flow and replaces its actions, and that a dump
reads neither the key nor the ufid. A del with neither flushes the
data path, and the del operation doc says so too.
v3:
https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/20261012065552.2426415-1-houminxi@gmail.com/
- no change since v2.
v2:
https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/20261006130533.1620706-1-houminxi@gmail.com/
- ovs_flow new lists ufid-flags and probe, which ovs_flow_cmd_new()
reads.
- The commit message now says probe changes from binary to flag, and
that new needs CAP_NET_ADMIN.
- The key attribute doc no longer says a key is required for every
request except a dump. get, set and del accept a ufid with no key,
and only a new flow needs a key. A set that replaces the actions
still needs a key.
Signed-off-by: Minxi Hou <houminxi@gmail.com>
Minxi Hou (2):
netlink: specs: add ovs_flow del and set operations
netlink: specs: add ovs datapath and vport set operations
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml | 27 ++++++-
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml | 76 +++++++++++++++----
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml | 22 ++++++
include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h | 17 +++--
4 files changed, 123 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-)
base-commit: 7b6ab4dbc156e2f96419715130b3d5738a306c93
--
2.56.0
^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 4+ messages in thread
* [PATCH net-next v5 1/2] netlink: specs: add ovs_flow del and set operations
2026-11-03 18:33 [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations Minxi Hou
@ 2026-11-03 18:33 ` Minxi Hou
2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 2/2] netlink: specs: add ovs datapath and vport " Minxi Hou
2026-11-04 17:26 ` [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations Minxi Hou
2 siblings, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread
From: Minxi Hou @ 2026-11-03 18:33 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: netdev
Cc: Donald Hunter, Jakub Kicinski, David S . Miller, Eric Dumazet,
Paolo Abeni, Simon Horman
The ovs_flow spec described get and new only, so a YNL client could not
delete or modify a flow. Both commands have been in the kernel since the
family was added: del flushes the data path when a request carries
neither a key nor a ufid, and set looks a flow up by key or by ufid.
List the attributes each command reads. new reads ufid-flags and probe as
well as the key, so those go in its request list. new, del and set need
CAP_NET_ADMIN.
A dump reads ufid-flags and nothing else. It shared the get request list,
which let a client send a key and a ufid the kernel ignores, so give it a
request list of its own. The reply stays the same as for get.
probe was binary while the kernel policy is NLA_FLAG. A YNL client leaves
out a false flag, where it sent an empty binary attribute before.
The key and the actions docs called those attributes always present in
notifications. A flow identified by a ufid sends neither when the request
asked for it to be left out, and a get reply follows the same rule. A
dump also leaves the actions out when they do not fit in the message.
The key doc said a key is required for every request except a dump. The
kernel accepts a ufid with no key, but a get and a set need one of the two,
and a set that replaces the actions needs a key. A new request needs a key,
including one that finds an existing flow and replaces its actions, and a
del that carries neither flushes the data path. The ufid doc says a dump
ignores that attribute.
Fix the same sentences in the uapi header. The spec text was copied from
there, and the two descriptions disagreed once this patch changed the
spec.
Signed-off-by: Minxi Hou <houminxi@gmail.com>
---
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml | 76 +++++++++++++++++++----
include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h | 17 +++--
2 files changed, 75 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml
index 951837b72e1d..bbfa2c1b7466 100644
--- a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml
+++ b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_flow.yaml
@@ -383,19 +383,27 @@ attribute-sets:
type: nest
nested-attributes: key-attrs
doc: |
- Nested attributes specifying the flow key. Always present in
- notifications. Required for all requests (except dumps).
+ Nested attributes specifying the flow key. Present in replies and
+ notifications, except for a flow identified by a ufid when the
+ request asked for the key to be left out. A get, set or del may
+ carry a ufid instead of a key; a get and a set need one of the
+ two, and a set that replaces the actions needs a key. A new
+ request needs a key, including one that finds an existing flow and
+ replaces its actions. A dump reads neither the key nor the ufid. A
+ del that carries neither flushes the data path.
-
name: actions
type: nest
nested-attributes: action-attrs
doc: |
Nested attributes specifying the actions to take for packets that
- match the key. Always present in notifications. Required for
- OVS_FLOW_CMD_NEW requests, optional for OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET requests. An
- OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET without OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS will not modify the
- actions. To clear the actions, an OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS without any
- nested attributes must be given.
+ match the key. Present in replies and notifications, except when
+ the request asked for the actions to be left out, and in a dump
+ when they do not fit in the message. Required for
+ OVS_FLOW_CMD_NEW requests, optional for OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET requests.
+ An OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET without OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS will not modify
+ the actions. To clear the actions, an OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS
+ without any nested attributes must be given.
-
name: stats
type: binary
@@ -438,7 +446,7 @@ attribute-sets:
are exact match bits.
-
name: probe
- type: binary
+ type: flag
doc: |
Flow operation is a feature probe, error logging should be suppressed.
-
@@ -448,8 +456,8 @@ attribute-sets:
A value between 1-16 octets specifying a unique identifier for the
flow. Causes the flow to be indexed by this value rather than the
value of the OVS_FLOW_ATTR_KEY attribute. Optional for all
- requests. Present in notifications if the flow was created with this
- attribute.
+ requests. Present in notifications if the flow was created with
+ this attribute. Ignored in a dump.
display-hint: uuid
-
name: ufid-flags
@@ -969,25 +977,31 @@ operations:
doc: Get / dump OVS flow configuration and state
value: 3
attribute-set: flow-attrs
- do: &flow-get-op
+ do:
request:
attributes:
- key
- ufid
- ufid-flags
- reply:
+ - probe
+ reply: &flow-get-reply
attributes:
- key
- ufid
- mask
- stats
- actions
- dump: *flow-get-op
+ dump:
+ request:
+ attributes:
+ - ufid-flags
+ reply: *flow-get-reply
-
name: new
doc: Create OVS flow configuration in a data path
value: 1
attribute-set: flow-attrs
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
do:
request:
attributes:
@@ -995,6 +1009,42 @@ operations:
- ufid
- mask
- actions
+ - ufid-flags
+ - probe
+ -
+ name: del
+ doc: |
+ Delete one flow, or every flow in the data path. A request with
+ neither a key nor a ufid flushes the data path.
+ value: 2
+ attribute-set: flow-attrs
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
+ do:
+ request:
+ attributes:
+ - key
+ - ufid
+ - ufid-flags
+ - probe
+ -
+ name: set
+ doc: |
+ Modify an existing flow. The kernel rejects the request with
+ -EINVAL when it carries neither a key nor a ufid. Replacing the
+ actions also needs a key: a ufid on its own is not enough.
+ value: 4
+ attribute-set: flow-attrs
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
+ do:
+ request:
+ attributes:
+ - key
+ - ufid
+ - mask
+ - actions
+ - ufid-flags
+ - clear
+ - probe
mcast-groups:
list:
diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h b/include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h
index 440825e65837..318209873e26 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h
@@ -624,11 +624,18 @@ struct ovs_nsh_key_md1 {
/**
* enum ovs_flow_attr - attributes for %OVS_FLOW_* commands.
* @OVS_FLOW_ATTR_KEY: Nested %OVS_KEY_ATTR_* attributes specifying the flow
- * key. Always present in notifications. Required for all requests (except
- * dumps).
+ * key. Present in replies and notifications, except for a flow identified
+ * by a ufid when the request asked for the key to be left out. A get, set
+ * or del may carry a ufid instead of a key; a get and a set need one of the
+ * two, and a set that replaces the actions needs a key. A new request needs
+ * a key, including one that finds an existing flow and replaces its
+ * actions. A dump reads neither of the two, and a del carrying neither
+ * flushes the data path.
* @OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS: Nested %OVS_ACTION_ATTR_* attributes specifying
- * the actions to take for packets that match the key. Always present in
- * notifications. Required for %OVS_FLOW_CMD_NEW requests, optional for
+ * the actions to take for packets that match the key. Present in replies
+ * and notifications, except when the request asked for the actions to be
+ * left out, and in a dump when they do not fit in the message. Required
+ * for %OVS_FLOW_CMD_NEW requests, optional for
* %OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET requests. An %OVS_FLOW_CMD_SET without
* %OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS will not modify the actions. To clear the actions,
* an %OVS_FLOW_ATTR_ACTIONS without any nested attributes must be given.
@@ -657,7 +664,7 @@ struct ovs_nsh_key_md1 {
* identifier for the flow. Causes the flow to be indexed by this value rather
* than the value of the %OVS_FLOW_ATTR_KEY attribute. Optional for all
* requests. Present in notifications if the flow was created with this
- * attribute.
+ * attribute. Ignored in a dump.
* @OVS_FLOW_ATTR_UFID_FLAGS: A 32-bit value of OR'd %OVS_UFID_F_*
* flags that provide alternative semantics for flow installation and
* retrieval. Optional for all requests.
--
2.56.0
^ permalink raw reply related [flat|nested] 4+ messages in thread
* [PATCH net-next v5 2/2] netlink: specs: add ovs datapath and vport set operations
2026-11-03 18:33 [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations Minxi Hou
2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 1/2] netlink: specs: add ovs_flow del and set operations Minxi Hou
@ 2026-11-03 18:33 ` Minxi Hou
2026-11-04 17:26 ` [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations Minxi Hou
2 siblings, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread
From: Minxi Hou @ 2026-11-03 18:33 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: netdev
Cc: Donald Hunter, Jakub Kicinski, David S . Miller, Eric Dumazet,
Paolo Abeni, Simon Horman
Both families register a SET command that the spec never described, so a
YNL client could not change an existing datapath or vport. The datapath
NEW command also gains the masks cache size, the per-cpu upcall pids and
the ifindex, which its handler reads. new, del and set take
CAP_NET_ADMIN, which is GENL_UNS_ADMIN_PERM in the kernel.
The datapath SET command changes the user features, the masks cache size
and the per-cpu upcall pids. A request that leaves out user-features is
read as zero, which clears the features set earlier. per-cpu-pids takes
effect only when the same request sets OVS_DP_F_DISPATCH_UPCALL_PER_CPU
in user-features; without that bit the pids are dropped and the request
still succeeds. The new operation reads per-cpu-pids the same way, so its
doc says so too.
The vport SET command changes the upcall pid. It finds the vport by name
or by port number, and rejects an ifindex with -EOPNOTSUPP before it
looks at the type or the options. A type that differs from the vport's
type is rejected with -EINVAL, and options with -EOPNOTSUPP.
Signed-off-by: Minxi Hou <houminxi@gmail.com>
---
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml | 27 ++++++++++++++++++-
Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml | 22 +++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 48 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml
index f7b3671991e6..8a8adf3820e6 100644
--- a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml
+++ b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_datapath.yaml
@@ -135,24 +135,49 @@ operations:
dump: *dp-get-op
-
name: new
- doc: Create new OVS data path
+ doc: |
+ Create new OVS data path. per-cpu-pids takes effect only when
+ user-features in the same request sets
+ OVS_DP_F_DISPATCH_UPCALL_PER_CPU.
value: 1
attribute-set: datapath
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
do:
request:
attributes:
- name
- upcall-pid
- user-features
+ - masks-cache-size
+ - per-cpu-pids
+ - ifindex
-
name: del
doc: Delete existing OVS data path
value: 2
attribute-set: datapath
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
do:
request:
attributes:
- name
+ -
+ name: set
+ doc: |
+ Modify an existing OVS data path. The kernel treats a missing
+ user-features attribute as zero and clears the previously set
+ features. per-cpu-pids takes effect only when the same request
+ sets OVS_DP_F_DISPATCH_UPCALL_PER_CPU in user-features.
+ value: 4
+ attribute-set: datapath
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
+ do:
+ request:
+ attributes:
+ - name
+ - user-features
+ - masks-cache-size
+ - per-cpu-pids
mcast-groups:
list:
diff --git a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml
index fa975f8821b6..e3971bbab4c5 100644
--- a/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml
+++ b/Documentation/netlink/specs/ovs_vport.yaml
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ operations:
name: new
doc: Create a new OVS vport
attribute-set: vport
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
do:
request:
attributes:
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ operations:
name: del
doc: Delete existing OVS vport from a data path
attribute-set: vport
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
do:
request:
attributes:
@@ -165,6 +167,26 @@ operations:
- netnsid
- upcall-stats
dump: *vport-get-op
+ -
+ name: set
+ doc: |
+ Modify an existing OVS vport. The vport is picked by name or by
+ port number. The kernel rejects an ifindex with -EOPNOTSUPP, before
+ it looks at the type or the options. It rejects a type that differs
+ from the vport's type with -EINVAL, and rejects options with
+ -EOPNOTSUPP. The only attribute that changes state is upcall-pid.
+ value: 4
+ attribute-set: vport
+ flags: [uns-admin-perm]
+ do:
+ request:
+ attributes:
+ - name
+ - type
+ - options
+ - upcall-pid
+ - port-no
+ - ifindex
mcast-groups:
list:
--
2.56.0
^ permalink raw reply related [flat|nested] 4+ messages in thread
* Re: [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations
2026-11-03 18:33 [PATCH net-next v5 0/2] netlink: specs: fill in the missing ovs operations Minxi Hou
2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 1/2] netlink: specs: add ovs_flow del and set operations Minxi Hou
2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 2/2] netlink: specs: add ovs datapath and vport " Minxi Hou
@ 2026-11-04 17:26 ` Minxi Hou
2 siblings, 0 replies; 4+ messages in thread
From: Minxi Hou @ 2026-11-04 17:26 UTC (permalink / raw)
To: netdev
Cc: Donald Hunter, Jakub Kicinski, David S. Miller, Eric Dumazet,
Paolo Abeni, Simon Horman, dev, Aaron Conole, Eelco Chaudron,
Ilya Maximets
Adding the Open vSwitch maintainers, who I left off the original posting.
The series now touches include/uapi/linux/openvswitch.h, which MAINTAINERS
lists under OPENVSWITCH. Earlier versions only changed the YNL specs, and
that entry does not match those paths, so my CC list stayed the same and I
did not rerun get_maintainer.pl after adding the header.
No change to the patches.
^ permalink raw reply [flat|nested] 4+ messages in thread
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2026-11-03 18:33 ` [PATCH net-next v5 2/2] netlink: specs: add ovs datapath and vport " Minxi Hou
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