Step 5: An overview of the most important commands of the OpenStackClient

Start

Now that we’ve installed the OpenStack client in step 4, we will learn some of the more important commands for it.

To get more details about a specific subcommand, you can append the --help flag to it.

To list all commands, you can use --help without any other information:

openstack --help

Server

With the command openstack server it’s possible to create, administrate or delete a VM.

Here is a list of some common commands:

• openstack server add This commands will add parameters (Fixed IP, Floating IP, Security group, Volume) to a VM.
• openstack server create This command creates a VM.
• openstack server delete This command deletes a VM.
• openstack sever list This command shows a list of all VMs.
• openstack server remove This command will remove parameters (Fixed IP, Floating IP, Security group, Volume) from a VM.
• openstack server show This command shows all important information about the specified VM.

Stack

With the command openstack stack you are able to administrate complete stacks, like openstack server for instances.

Here is a list for some common commands:

• openstack stack create This command creates a new stack.
• openstack stack list This command lists all stacks.
• openstack stack show This command shows all important information about the specified stack.
• openstack stack delete This command deletes the specified stack.

Security Group

Security Groups are used, to allow or deny incoming and outgoing network traffic based on ip-adresses and ports for VMs.

You can also manage security groups in the OpenStackClient.

Here are some common commands:

• openstack security group create Creates a new security group
• openstack security group delete Deletes a security group
• openstack security group list List of all security groups
• openstack security group show Shows all important information about a security group
• openstack security group rule create Adds a rule for a security group
• openstack security group rule delete Deletes a rule in a security group

Network

To create VMs, they need a network, here are some common network commands:

• openstack network create Creates a new network
• openstack nerwork list List of all networks
• openstack network show Shows all important information about a network
• openstack network delete Deletes a network

Router

For the VMs on your network to reach the internet, you need a router, here are some common router commands.

• openstack router create Creates a new router
• openstack router delete Deletes a router
• openstack router add port Adds a port to a router
• openstack router add subnet Adds a subnet to a router

Subnet

To use a virtual router correctly, we will need a subnet, which can be administrated with openstack subnet and here are some common commands:

• openstack subnet create Creates a new subnet
• openstack subnet delete Deletes a subnet
• openstack subnet show Shows all infomation about a subnet

Port

Ports connect your VMs to your network, here are some common commands:

• openstack port create Create a new port
• openstack port delete Deletes a port
• openstack port show Shows all infomation about a port

Volume

Volumes are persistent storage locations, they will show up as a disk on your VM, here are some common commands:

• openstack volume create Creates a new Volume
• openstack volume delete Deletes a volume
• openstack volume show Shows all infomation about a volume

Conclusion

Now we know some common openstack commands, and have a better overview of the system.

The commands mentioned are required in the next steps and thus form the basis for the rest of the guided tour.

In step 6, we will create and use our own SSH key pairs.