Chapter 9. Configure maximum transmission unit (MTU) settings

OpenStack Networking can calculate the largest possible maximum transmission unit (MTU) size that you can apply safely to instances. The MTU value specifies the maximum amount of data that a single network packet can transfer; this number is variable depending on the most appropriate size for the application. For example, NFS shares might require a different MTU size to that of a VoIP application.

You must configure MTU settings consistently from end-to-end. This means that the MTU setting must be the same at every point the packet passes through, including the VM, the virtual network infrastructure, the physical network, and the destination server.

For example, the circles in the following diagram indicate the various points where an MTU value must be adjusted for traffic between an instance and a physical server. You must change the MTU value for very interface that handles network traffic to accommodate packets of a particular MTU size. This is necessary if traffic travels from the instance 192.168.200.15 through to the physical server 10.20.15.25:

Inconsistent MTU values can result in several network issues, the most common being random packet loss that results in connection drops and slow network performance. Such issues are problematic to troubleshoot because you must identify and examine every possible network point to ensure it has the correct MTU value.

This example demonstrates how to set the MTU using the NIC config templates. You must set the MTU on the bridge, bond (if applicable), interface(s), and VLAN(s):

            -
              type: ovs_bridge
              name: br-isolated
              use_dhcp: false
              mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
              members:
                -
                  type: ovs_bond
                  name: bond1
                  mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
                  ovs_options: {get_param: BondInterfaceOvsOptions}
                  members:
                    -
                      type: interface
                      name: ens15f0
                      mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
                      primary: true
                    -
                      type: interface
                      name: enp131s0f0
                      mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
                -
                  type: vlan
                  device: bond1
                  vlan_id: {get_param: InternalApiNetworkVlanID}
                  mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
                  addresses:
                  -
                    ip_netmask: {get_param: InternalApiIpSubnet}
                -
                  type: vlan
                  device: bond1
                  mtu: 9000    # <--- Set MTU
                  vlan_id: {get_param: TenantNetworkVlanID}
                  addresses:
                  -
                    ip_netmask: {get_param: TenantIpSubnet}

You can view the calculated MTU value, which is the largest possible MTU value that instances can use. Use this calculated MTU value to configure all interfaces involved in the path of network traffic.

# openstack network show <network>