diff mbox series

[ovs-dev,v3,1/6] ovs-kmod-ctl: introduce a kernel module load script

Message ID 20180601182849.12984-2-aconole@redhat.com
State Accepted
Headers show
Series selinux: introduce a transition domain for loading kmods | expand

Commit Message

Aaron Conole June 1, 2018, 6:28 p.m. UTC
Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and unloading
kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works, but
it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.

The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
the openvswitch_t domain.

Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
---
 debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
 debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
 rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
 rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
 utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
 utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
 utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
 10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
 create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in

Comments

Aaron Conole June 6, 2018, 2:31 p.m. UTC | #1
Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> writes:

> Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and unloading
> kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works, but
> it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
> to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.
>
> The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
> for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
> will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
> the openvswitch_t domain.
>
> Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
> Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
> ---
>  debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
>  debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
>  rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
>  rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
>  utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
>  utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
>  utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
>  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
>  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
>  10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
>  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
>  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in

...

> +    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
> +        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
> +    fi
> +
> +    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
> +        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
> +    fi

I think this block will no longer successfully apply since
a94f9524dbc11c78c83d1a49959497f5e73bf949.  I got caught in the
apply/revert storm :)

How should I proceed?  Should I send an incremental, a new spin of this
patch, or a new spin of the series?
Ansis June 6, 2018, 5:07 p.m. UTC | #2
On Wed, Jun 6, 2018, 7:31 AM Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> wrote:

> Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> writes:
>
> > Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and
> unloading
> > kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works,
> but
> > it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
> > to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.
> >
> > The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
> > for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
> > will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
> > the openvswitch_t domain.
> >
> > Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
> > Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
> > ---
> >  debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
> >  debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
> >  rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
> >  rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
> >  utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
> >  utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
> >  utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
> >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
> >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >  utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
> >  10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
> >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
> >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
>
> ...
>
> > +    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
> > +        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
> > +    fi
> > +
> > +    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
> > +        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
> > +    fi
>
> I think this block will no longer successfully apply since
> a94f9524dbc11c78c83d1a49959497f5e73bf949.  I got caught in the
> apply/revert storm :)
>
> How should I proceed?  Should I send an incremental, a new spin of this
> patch, or a new spin of the series?
>

Since the conflict was easy to resolve, then I don't think you need to do
anything this time. Once I will push this patch, you can keep an eye on it
just to double check that I resolved the conflict correctly.
Aaron Conole June 6, 2018, 5:55 p.m. UTC | #3
Ansis Atteka <ansisatteka@gmail.com> writes:

> On Wed, Jun 6, 2018, 7:31 AM Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> wrote:
>
>  Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> writes:
>
>  > Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and unloading
>  > kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works, but
>  > it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
>  > to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.
>  >
>  > The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
>  > for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
>  > will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
>  > the openvswitch_t domain.
>  >
>  > Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
>  > Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
>  > ---
>  >  debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
>  >  debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
>  >  rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
>  >  rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
>  >  utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
>  >  utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
>  >  utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
>  >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
>  >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183
>  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  >  utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
>  >  10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
>  >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
>  >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
>
>  ...
>
>  > +    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
>  > +        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
>  > +    fi
>  > +
>  > +    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
>  > +        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
>  > +    fi
>
>  I think this block will no longer successfully apply since
>  a94f9524dbc11c78c83d1a49959497f5e73bf949.  I got caught in the
>  apply/revert storm :)
>
>  How should I proceed?  Should I send an incremental, a new spin of this
>  patch, or a new spin of the series?
>
> Since the conflict was easy to resolve, then I don't think you need to do anything this time. Once I
> will push this patch, you can keep an eye on it just to double check that I resolved the conflict
> correctly.

Thanks, Ansis!
Ben Pfaff June 14, 2018, 8:32 p.m. UTC | #4
On Wed, Jun 06, 2018 at 10:07:14AM -0700, Ansis Atteka wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 6, 2018, 7:31 AM Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> wrote:
> 
> > Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> writes:
> >
> > > Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and
> > unloading
> > > kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works,
> > but
> > > it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
> > > to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.
> > >
> > > The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
> > > for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
> > > will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
> > > the openvswitch_t domain.
> > >
> > > Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
> > > Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
> > > ---
> > >  debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
> > >  debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
> > >  rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
> > >  rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
> > >  utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
> > >  utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
> > >  utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
> > >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
> > >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > >  utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
> > >  10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
> > >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
> > >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
> >
> > ...
> >
> > > +    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
> > > +        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
> > > +    fi
> > > +
> > > +    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
> > > +        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
> > > +    fi
> >
> > I think this block will no longer successfully apply since
> > a94f9524dbc11c78c83d1a49959497f5e73bf949.  I got caught in the
> > apply/revert storm :)
> >
> > How should I proceed?  Should I send an incremental, a new spin of this
> > patch, or a new spin of the series?
> >
> 
> Since the conflict was easy to resolve, then I don't think you need to do
> anything this time. Once I will push this patch, you can keep an eye on it
> just to double check that I resolved the conflict correctly.

Does this series need anything?
Ansis June 18, 2018, 2:37 a.m. UTC | #5
On Wed, 6 Jun 2018 at 07:31, Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> wrote:
>
> Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com> writes:
>
> > Currently, Open vSwitch on linux embeds the logic of loading and unloading
> > kernel modules into the ovs-ctl and ovs-lib script files.  This works, but
> > it means that there is no way to leverage extended filesystem attributes
> > to grant fine grain permissions relating to module loading.
> >
> > The split out utility 'ovs-kmod-ctl' will be used in an upcoming commit
> > for RHEL-based distributions to have a separate transition domain that
> > will allow module loading to be given to a separate selinux domain from
> > the openvswitch_t domain.
> >
> > Acked-By: Timothy Redaelli <tredaelli@redhat.com>
> > Signed-off-by: Aaron Conole <aconole@redhat.com>
Acked-by: Ansis Atteka <aatteka@ovn.org>
> > ---
> >  debian/openvswitch-switch.install  |   1 +
> >  debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages |   1 +
> >  rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in    |   2 +
> >  rhel/openvswitch.spec.in           |   2 +
> >  utilities/.gitignore               |   1 +
> >  utilities/automake.mk              |   5 +
> >  utilities/ovs-ctl.in               |  32 +------
> >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8           | 109 ++++++++++++++++++++++
> >  utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in          | 183 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >  utilities/ovs-lib.in               |  20 +---
> >  10 files changed, 311 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
> >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
> >  create mode 100644 utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
>
> ...
>
> > +    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
> > +        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
> > +    fi
> > +
> > +    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
> > +        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
> > +    fi
>
> I think this block will no longer successfully apply since
> a94f9524dbc11c78c83d1a49959497f5e73bf949.  I got caught in the
> apply/revert storm :)

Since conflict seemed trivial, then I resolved it for you. You are
welcome to double check it in master branch.
>
> How should I proceed?  Should I send an incremental, a new spin of this
> patch, or a new spin of the series?
diff mbox series

Patch

diff --git a/debian/openvswitch-switch.install b/debian/openvswitch-switch.install
index bfb391fe8..6a6e9a543 100644
--- a/debian/openvswitch-switch.install
+++ b/debian/openvswitch-switch.install
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@  usr/sbin/ovs-vswitchd
 usr/sbin/ovsdb-server
 usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-check-dead-ifs
 usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-ctl
+usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-kmod-ctl
 usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-save
 usr/share/openvswitch/vswitch.ovsschema
diff --git a/debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages b/debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages
index c85cbfd30..1161cfda7 100644
--- a/debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages
+++ b/debian/openvswitch-switch.manpages
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@  ovsdb/ovsdb-server.5
 utilities/ovs-ctl.8
 utilities/ovs-dpctl-top.8
 utilities/ovs-dpctl.8
+utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
 utilities/ovs-pcap.1
 utilities/ovs-tcpdump.8
 utilities/ovs-tcpundump.1
diff --git a/rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in b/rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in
index 64a87a793..151a1aa85 100644
--- a/rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in
+++ b/rhel/openvswitch-fedora.spec.in
@@ -547,6 +547,7 @@  fi
 %{_datadir}/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-save
 %{_datadir}/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-vtep
 %{_datadir}/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-ctl
+%{_datadir}/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-kmod-ctl
 %{_datadir}/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-systemd-reload
 %config %{_datadir}/openvswitch/vswitch.ovsschema
 %config %{_datadir}/openvswitch/vtep.ovsschema
@@ -580,6 +581,7 @@  fi
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-ctl.8*
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-dpctl.8*
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-dpctl-top.8*
+%{_mandir}/man8/ovs-kmod-ctl.8*
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-ofctl.8*
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-pki.8*
 %{_mandir}/man8/ovs-vsctl.8*
diff --git a/rhel/openvswitch.spec.in b/rhel/openvswitch.spec.in
index 2c5f0409a..883d25607 100644
--- a/rhel/openvswitch.spec.in
+++ b/rhel/openvswitch.spec.in
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@  exit 0
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-ctl.8.gz
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-dpctl.8.gz
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-dpctl-top.8.gz
+/usr/share/man/man8/ovs-kmod-ctl.8.gz
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-ofctl.8.gz
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-parse-backtrace.8.gz
 /usr/share/man/man8/ovs-pki.8.gz
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@  exit 0
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-bugtool-*
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-check-dead-ifs
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-ctl
+/usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-kmod-ctl
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-lib
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-save
 /usr/share/openvswitch/scripts/ovs-vtep
diff --git a/utilities/.gitignore b/utilities/.gitignore
index aca5f1a34..10185c5d8 100644
--- a/utilities/.gitignore
+++ b/utilities/.gitignore
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ 
 /ovs-dpctl.8
 /ovs-dpctl-top
 /ovs-dpctl-top.8
+/ovs-kmod-ctl
 /ovs-l3ping
 /ovs-l3ping.8
 /ovs-lib
diff --git a/utilities/automake.mk b/utilities/automake.mk
index eb4fd6faa..4d4ab09ce 100644
--- a/utilities/automake.mk
+++ b/utilities/automake.mk
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@  endif
 scripts_SCRIPTS += \
 	utilities/ovs-check-dead-ifs \
 	utilities/ovs-ctl \
+	utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl \
 	utilities/ovs-save
 scripts_DATA += utilities/ovs-lib
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@  EXTRA_DIST += \
 	utilities/ovs-dev.py \
 	utilities/ovs-docker \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl-top.in \
+	utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in \
 	utilities/ovs-l3ping.in \
 	utilities/ovs-lib.in \
 	utilities/ovs-parse-backtrace.in \
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@  MAN_ROOTS += \
 	utilities/ovs-ctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl.8.in \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl-top.8.in \
+	utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-l3ping.8.in \
 	utilities/ovs-ofctl.8.in \
 	utilities/ovs-parse-backtrace.8 \
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@  CLEANFILES += \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl-top \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl-top.8 \
+	utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl \
 	utilities/ovs-l3ping \
 	utilities/ovs-l3ping.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-lib \
@@ -106,6 +110,7 @@  man_MANS += \
 	utilities/ovs-testcontroller.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-dpctl-top.8 \
+	utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-l3ping.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-ofctl.8 \
 	utilities/ovs-parse-backtrace.8 \
diff --git a/utilities/ovs-ctl.in b/utilities/ovs-ctl.in
index ef06dd967..8fdf8909a 100755
--- a/utilities/ovs-ctl.in
+++ b/utilities/ovs-ctl.in
@@ -30,37 +30,9 @@  done
 ## start ##
 ## ----- ##
 
-insert_mods () {
-    # Try loading openvswitch again.
-    action "Inserting openvswitch module" modprobe openvswitch
-}
-
 insert_mod_if_required () {
-    # If this kernel has no module support, expect we're done.
-    if test ! -e /proc/modules
-    then
-        log_success_msg "Kernel has no loadable module support. Skipping modprobe"
-        return 0
-    fi
-
-    # If openvswitch is already loaded then we're done.
-    test -e /sys/module/openvswitch && return 0
-
-    # Load openvswitch.  If that's successful then we're done.
-    insert_mods && return 0
-
-    # If the bridge module is loaded, then that might be blocking
-    # openvswitch.  Try to unload it, if there are no bridges.
-    test -e /sys/module/bridge || return 1
-    bridges=`echo /sys/class/net/*/bridge | sed 's,/sys/class/net/,,g;s,/bridge,,g'`
-    if test "$bridges" != "*"; then
-        log_warning_msg "not removing bridge module because bridges exist ($bridges)"
-        return 1
-    fi
-    action "removing bridge module" rmmod bridge || return 1
-
-    # Try loading openvswitch again.
-    insert_mods
+    ## This takes care of inserting any required kernel modules
+    ovs_kmod_ctl insert
 }
 
 set_hostname () {
diff --git a/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8 b/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c36638e79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.8
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@ 
+.\" -*- nroff -*-
+.de IQ
+.  br
+.  ns
+.  IP "\\$1"
+..
+.de ST
+.  PP
+.  RS -0.15in
+.  I "\\$1"
+.  RE
+..
+.TH ovs\-ctl 8 "February 2018" "Open vSwitch" "Open vSwitch Manual"
+.ds PN ovs\-ctl
+.
+.SH NAME
+ovs\-kmod\-ctl \- OVS startup helper script for loading kernel modules
+.
+.SH SYNOPSIS
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR \fBinsert
+.br
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl \fBremove
+.br
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl help \fR| \fB\-h \fR| \fB\-\-help
+.br
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl \-\-version
+.br
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl version
+.
+.SH DESCRIPTION
+.
+.PP
+The \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR program is responsible for inserting and
+removing Open vSwitch kernel modules.  It is not meant to be invoked
+directly by system administrators but to be called internally by
+system startup scripts.  The script is used as part of an SELinux
+transition domain.
+.
+.PP
+Each of \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR's commands is described separately below.
+.
+.SH "The ``insert'' command"
+.
+.PP
+The \fBinsert\fR command loads the Open vSwitch kernel modules, if
+needed.  If this fails, and the Linux bridge module is loaded but no
+bridges exist, it tries to unload the bridge module and tries loading
+the Open vSwitch kernel module again.
+.
+.SH "The ``remove'' command"
+.
+.PP
+The \fBremove\fR command unloads the Open vSwitch kernel module (including
+the bridge compatibility module, if loaded) and any associated vport
+modules.
+.
+.SH "EXIT STATUS"
+.
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR exits with status 0 on success and nonzero on
+failure.  The \fBinsert\fR command is considered to succeed if kernel
+modules are already loaded; the \fBremove\fR command is considered to
+succeed if none of the kernel modules are loaded.
+.
+.SH "ENVIRONMENT"
+.
+The following environment variables affect \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR:
+.
+.IP "\fBPATH\fR"
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR does not hardcode the location of any of the programs
+that it runs.  \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR will add the \fIsbindir\fR and
+\fIbindir\fR that were specified at \fBconfigure\fR time to
+\fBPATH\fR, if they are not already present.
+.
+.IP "\fBOVS_LOGDIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_RUNDIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_DBDIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_SYSCONFDIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_PKGDATADIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_BINDIR\fR"
+.IQ "\fBOVS_SBINDIR\fR"
+Setting one of these variables in the environment overrides the
+respective \fBconfigure\fR option, both for \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR itself
+and for the other Open vSwitch programs that it runs.
+.
+.SH "FILES"
+.
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR uses the following files:
+.
+.IP "\fBovs\-lib"
+Shell function library used internally by \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR.  It must
+be installed in the same directory as \fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR.
+.
+.SH "EXAMPLE"
+.
+.PP
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR isn't intended to be manually executed.  However, the
+following examples demonstrate loading the kernel modules.
+.
+.TP
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR insert
+Attempts to insert the Open vSwitch kernel modules.
+.
+.TP
+\fBovs\-kmod\-ctl\fR remove
+Attempts to remove the Open vSwitch kernel modules.
+.
+.SH "SEE ALSO"
+.
+\fBREADME.rst\fR, \fBovs\-ctl\fR(8)
diff --git a/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in b/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7c50d6422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utilities/ovs-kmod-ctl.in
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@ 
+#! /bin/sh
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# Copyright (C) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at:
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+. "@pkgdatadir@/scripts/ovs-lib" || exit 1
+
+for dir in "$sbindir" "$bindir" /sbin /bin /usr/sbin /usr/bin; do
+    case :$PATH: in
+        *:$dir:*) ;;
+        *) PATH=$PATH:$dir ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+insert_mods () {
+    # Try loading openvswitch kernel module.
+    action "Inserting openvswitch module" modprobe openvswitch
+}
+
+insert_kmods_if_required() {
+    # If this kernel has no module support, expect we're done.
+    if test ! -e /proc/modules
+    then
+        log_success_msg "Kernel has no loadable module support. Skipping modprobe"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    # If openvswitch is already loaded then we're done.
+    test -e /sys/module/openvswitch && return 0
+
+    # Load openvswitch.  If that's successful then we're done.
+    insert_mods && return 0
+
+    # If the bridge module is loaded, then that might be blocking
+    # openvswitch.  Try to unload it, if there are no bridges.
+    test -e /sys/module/bridge || return 1
+    bridges=`echo /sys/class/net/*/bridge | sed 's,/sys/class/net/,,g;s,/bridge,,g'`
+    if test "$bridges" != "*"; then
+        log_warning_msg "not removing bridge module because bridges exist ($bridges)"
+        return 1
+    fi
+    action "removing bridge module" rmmod bridge || return 1
+
+    # Try loading openvswitch again.
+    insert_mods
+}
+
+remove_kmods() {
+    for vport in `awk '/^vport_/ { print $1 }' /proc/modules`; do
+        action "Removing $vport module" rmmod $vport
+    done
+
+    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
+        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
+    fi
+
+    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
+        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
+    fi
+
+    if test -e /sys/module/openvswitch; then
+        action "Removing openvswitch module" rmmod openvswitch
+    fi
+}
+
+usage () {
+    cat <<EOF
+$0: controls Open vSwitch kernel modules
+usage: $0 [OPTIONS] COMMAND
+
+This program is intended to be invoked internally by Open vSwitch startup
+scripts.  System administrators should not normally invoke it directly.
+
+Commands:
+  insert                  insert the Open vSwitch kernel modules
+  remove                  remove the Open vSwitch kernel modules
+
+Options:
+  -h, --help              display this help message
+  -V, --version           display version information
+
+Default directories with "configure" option and environment variable override:
+  logs: @LOGDIR@ (--with-logdir, OVS_LOGDIR)
+  pidfiles and sockets: @RUNDIR@ (--with-rundir, OVS_RUNDIR)
+  conf.db: @DBDIR@ (--with-dbdir, OVS_DBDIR)
+  system configuration: @sysconfdir@ (--sysconfdir, OVS_SYSCONFDIR)
+  data files: @pkgdatadir@ (--pkgdatadir, OVS_PKGDATADIR)
+  user binaries: @bindir@ (--bindir, OVS_BINDIR)
+  system binaries: @sbindir@ (--sbindir, OVS_SBINDIR)
+
+Please report bugs to bugs@openvswitch.org (see REPORTING-BUGS for details).
+EOF
+
+    exit 0
+}
+
+set_option () {
+    var=`echo "$option" | tr abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz- ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ_`
+    eval set=\${$var+yes}
+    eval old_value=\$$var
+    if test X$set = X || \
+        (test $type = bool && \
+        test X"$old_value" != Xno && test X"$old_value" != Xyes); then
+        echo >&2 "$0: unknown option \"$arg\" (use --help for help)"
+        return
+    fi
+    eval $var=\$value
+}
+
+extra_ids=
+command=
+for arg
+do
+    case $arg in
+        -h | --help)
+            usage
+            ;;
+        -V | --version)
+            echo "$0 (Open vSwitch) $VERSION"
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        --[a-z]*=*)
+            option=`expr X"$arg" : 'X--\([^=]*\)'`
+            value=`expr X"$arg" : 'X[^=]*=\(.*\)'`
+            type=string
+            set_option
+            ;;
+        --no-[a-z]*)
+            option=`expr X"$arg" : 'X--no-\(.*\)'`
+            value=no
+            type=bool
+            set_option
+            ;;
+        --[a-z]*)
+            option=`expr X"$arg" : 'X--\(.*\)'`
+            value=yes
+            type=bool
+            set_option
+            ;;
+        -*)
+            echo >&2 "$0: unknown option \"$arg\" (use --help for help)"
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+        *)
+            if test X"$command" = X; then
+                command=$arg
+            else
+                echo >&2 "$0: exactly one non-option argument required (use --help for help)"
+                exit 1
+            fi
+            ;;
+    esac
+done
+case $command in
+    remove)
+        remove_kmods
+        ;;
+    insert)
+        insert_kmods_if_required
+        ;;
+    help)
+        usage
+        ;;
+    '')
+        echo >&2 "$0: missing command name (use --help for help)"
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo >&2 "$0: unknown command \"$command\" (use --help for help)"
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
diff --git a/utilities/ovs-lib.in b/utilities/ovs-lib.in
index 5ba4f8b08..6a958cbdf 100644
--- a/utilities/ovs-lib.in
+++ b/utilities/ovs-lib.in
@@ -503,6 +503,10 @@  ovs_vsctl () {
 ## force-reload-kmod ##
 ## ----------------- ##
 
+ovs_kmod_ctl () {
+    "$dir0/ovs-kmod-ctl" "$@"
+}
+
 internal_interfaces () {
     # Outputs a list of internal interfaces:
     #
@@ -618,21 +622,7 @@  force_reload_kmod () {
     done
     action "ovs-appctl dpctl/flush-conntrack"
 
-    for vport in `awk '/^vport_/ { print $1 }' /proc/modules`; do
-        action "Removing $vport module" rmmod $vport
-    done
-
-    if test -e /sys/module/ip_gre; then
-        action "Forcing removal of ip_gre module" rmmod ip_gre
-    fi
-
-    if test -e /sys/module/gre; then
-        action "Forcing removal of gre module" rmmod gre
-    fi
-
-    if test -e /sys/module/openvswitch; then
-        action "Removing openvswitch module" rmmod openvswitch
-    fi
+    ovs_kmod_ctl remove
 
     # Start vswitchd by asking it to wait till flow restore is finished.
     flow_restore_wait