github.com/dpiddy/docker@v1.12.2-rc1/docs/extend/plugins_network.md (about) 1 <!--[metadata]> 2 +++ 3 title = "Docker network driver plugins" 4 description = "Network driver plugins." 5 keywords = ["Examples, Usage, plugins, docker, documentation, user guide"] 6 [menu.main] 7 parent = "engine_extend" 8 weight=5 9 +++ 10 <![end-metadata]--> 11 12 # Engine network driver plugins 13 14 This document describes Docker Engine network driver plugins generally 15 available in Docker Engine. To view information on plugins 16 managed by Docker Engine, refer to [Docker Engine plugin system](index.md). 17 18 Docker Engine network plugins enable Engine deployments to be extended to 19 support a wide range of networking technologies, such as VXLAN, IPVLAN, MACVLAN 20 or something completely different. Network driver plugins are supported via the 21 LibNetwork project. Each plugin is implemented as a "remote driver" for 22 LibNetwork, which shares plugin infrastructure with Engine. Effectively, network 23 driver plugins are activated in the same way as other plugins, and use the same 24 kind of protocol. 25 26 ## Network driver plugins and swarm mode 27 28 Docker 1.12 adds support for cluster management and orchestration called 29 [swarm mode](../swarm/index.md). Docker Engine running in swarm mode currently 30 only supports the built-in overlay driver for networking. Therefore existing 31 networking plugins will not work in swarm mode. 32 33 When you run Docker Engine outside of swarm mode, all networking plugins that 34 worked in Docker 1.11 will continue to function normally. They do not require 35 any modification. 36 37 ## Using network driver plugins 38 39 The means of installing and running a network driver plugin depend on the 40 particular plugin. So, be sure to install your plugin according to the 41 instructions obtained from the plugin developer. 42 43 Once running however, network driver plugins are used just like the built-in 44 network drivers: by being mentioned as a driver in network-oriented Docker 45 commands. For example, 46 47 $ docker network create --driver weave mynet 48 49 Some network driver plugins are listed in [plugins](legacy_plugins.md) 50 51 The `mynet` network is now owned by `weave`, so subsequent commands 52 referring to that network will be sent to the plugin, 53 54 $ docker run --network=mynet busybox top 55 56 57 ## Write a network plugin 58 59 Network plugins implement the [Docker plugin 60 API](https://docs.docker.com/extend/plugin_api/) and the network plugin protocol 61 62 ## Network plugin protocol 63 64 The network driver protocol, in addition to the plugin activation call, is 65 documented as part of libnetwork: 66 [https://github.com/docker/libnetwork/blob/master/docs/remote.md](https://github.com/docker/libnetwork/blob/master/docs/remote.md). 67 68 # Related Information 69 70 To interact with the Docker maintainers and other interested users, see the IRC channel `#docker-network`. 71 72 - [Docker networks feature overview](../userguide/networking/index.md) 73 - The [LibNetwork](https://github.com/docker/libnetwork) project