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_Indigo is an open source OpenFlow implementation that runs on physical switches and uses the hardware features of Ethernet switch ASICs to run OpenFlow at line rates.  It is based on the OpenFlow Reference Implementation from Stanford and currently implements all required features of the OpenFlow 1.0 standard._
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h2. What is Indigo

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Indigo is an open source project to support [OpenFlow|http://openflow.org] on a range of physical switches.  By leveraging hardware features of Ethernet switch ASICs, Indigo supports _high rates for high port counts_, up to 48 10-gigabit ports.  Multiple gigabit platforms with 10-gigabit uplinks are also supported.  These exceed the limits of [NetFPGA|http://netfpga.org] or pure-software OpenFlow implementations.  Indigo firmware is actively used in many campus deployments (at Stanford and several other schools), in at least one OpenFlow startup, a 20-switch conference network deploytment and a 32-switch data center deployment.  The current release is based on the OpenFlow Reference Implementation from Stanford and currently implements all OpenFlow 1.0 features.

The Indigo software distribution is available in two ways:
     As pre-built firmware images (recommended for starting users)
     As a source distribution in a VM (recommended for advanced users)

The downloadable firmware images supports both a web-based configuration UI and a CLI available via telnet or ssh.  These interfaces allow the configuration of the control interface (including behavior when the controller connection is lost) and monitoring of the ports and flow table.

More advanced users can download the Indigo Open Development System (IODS), a source release of the Indigo software.  Users can modify the web server, command-line interface, some OpenFlow processing logic, and even add additional programs.  IODS enables extensions in both C and Lua (a Python-like scripting language).  The CLI and backend of the on-board web server are written in Lua and can be modified by the user.

h2. Download Indigo

* [Indigo Flashable Binary Image Downloads|Indigo - Download Page]
** These are binary images built for specific platforms which can be transfered to switches and burned into flash.
* [IODS Development VM and Toolchain Downloads|Indigo:IODS Download]
** VMWare Virtual Machine instances of the Indigo Open Development System allowing the customization and generation of binary images for OpenFlow platforms.

h2. Latest Documentation

* [Indigo:Indigo 2011.08.06 Release Notes]
* [Indigo:Indigo Initialization and Configuration]
* [Indigo:Indigo CLI Reference]
* [Indigo:Indigo 1.0 Overview]
* [In-Band Management for Indigo|Indigo:In-Band Management for Indigo]
* [Indigo:Building IODS]
* [Indigo:IODS VM Bringup]
* [Indigo:Indigo CLI Internals]
* [Indigo:Upgrading the Flash of the Netgear 73xx for OpenFlow]

h2. Supported Platforms

Indigo runs on a number of physical switches using Broadcom including:
* *[Pronto 3290|http://www.prontosys.net/pronto3290.htm]* \- A 48x1Gb+4x10Gb system based on the BRCM 56534 Chip
* *[Pronto 3780|http://www.prontosys.net/pronto3780.htm]* \- A 48x10Gb system based on the BRCM 56820 Chip
* *[Pronto 3240|http://www.prontosys.net/test/pronto3240.htm]**/Quanta LB4G* \- A 48x1Gb+4x10Gb system based on the BRCM 56514 Chip (EOL'd)
* *[Netgear GSM7328|http://www.netgear.com/business/products/switches/fully-managed-switches/GSM7328S-200.aspx]* \- A 24x1Gb + 4x10Gb/s switch
* *[Netgear GSM7352|http://www.netgear.com/business/products/switches/fully-managed-switches/GSM7352S-200.aspx]* \- A 48x1Gb + 4x10Gb/s switch
* Select Broadcom reference designs using XGS chipsets.

It has been successfully ported to other Broadcom based platforms.

h2. Using Indigo

To use Indigo, you will need one of the above switches and the Indigo firmware. Reflashing the switches to use Indigo may require special hardware, please check out the detailed information for each switch before attempting to use them for OpenFlow.

* If you're just getting started on the Pronto 3290, see the [Indigo:Up and Running on the 3290] page.
* The web interface is described in [Indigo:Using the Indigo Web Interface].
* If you need help connecting a serial port, see this page: [Indigo:Serial Ports on Quanta and Pronto]
* If you have a new LB4G/3240, you _may_ need to replace VxWorks.  If you see anything other than a u-boot message when you connect to the serial port and boot the system, you need to do this.  See this page: [Indigo:Replacing VxWorks on the 3240].
* If you're working with an LB4G and want to upgrade the firmware, see this page: [Indigo:Reflashing a Pronto Switch]
* If you have a cluster of Indigo switches and want to manage configuration centrally, see this page: [Indigo:Cluster Setup].
* Obtain the firmware image. To do this contact [dtalayco@bigswitch.com|mailto:dtalayco@bigswitch.com].
* Other references:
** Pronto/Quanta Switches: [LB4G/3240 Quickstart Guide|http://www.openflow.org/wk/index.php/IndigoQuickStartLB4G] or the [LB9A/3290 Quickstart Guide|http://www.openflow.org/wk/index.php/IndigoQuickStart3290]
** Documentation on [Indigo Configuration|http://www.openflow.org/wk/index.php/IndigoConfiguration]. NOTE: This applies only through indigo-1.0-beta releases.  It has not yet been updated for the indigo-2011.03.31 release.

h2. Support

* [Indigo Support Forums|http://forums.openflowhub.org/forumdisplay.php?5-Indigo] \- Hosted on OpenFlow Hub
* [Indigo Bugs & Issues|http://bugs.openflowhub.org/browse/Indigo] \- OpenFlow Hub's JIRA

h2. Compiling Indigo from the Source

The source code for Indigo is available under a BSD style license, however we can only make the hardware specific parts of the source code available to parties that are under NDA with Broadcom and have access to the Broadcom SDK. Please contact support@bigswitch.com or info@openflow.org if you want access to the full source.

Compiling the source code requires some experience with cross-compilation and an understanding of the Broadcom SDK. The Indigo Source Code itself is licensed under a BSD style license and there are few restrictions on use other than the NDA/SLA requirements from Broadcom.

h2. Latest threads from the Forum
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