Linux KVM and 9800CL interface setup

[EROBERT]

I have a 9800CL qcow image running in Linux KVM. I have 3 ports from the NIC assigned to the 9800CL by direct attachment. They show up fine as gig interfaces. I can configure them as no switchport and communicate across the network. However, when I set them up as a switchport, no VLAN has access to the network.

At this point in my troubleshooting, I'm wondering if there's more I have to do from the server host when assigning the network interfaces other than simply 'directly attaching' them. I can't figure out what else the issue could be.

[Mark Elsen]

  - Ref :  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/nb-06-cat9800-ser-wirel-faq-ctp-en.html
    >...
    

Table 13.      Supported network adapters

Adapter	VMware ESXi	Open-source KVM	Microsoft Hyper-V
vNIC adaptors support	VMXNET3
	E1000E	VIRTIO	NetVSC
	E1000

       https://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Virtio

                                                                                            Check if these info's  can help you

  M.

[EROBERT]

That seems to confirm what I've believed. However, documentation for setting up the 9800CL on KVM seems to suggest I need to setup bridging. This makes me thing the 9800CL is incapable of utilizing the passthrough interfaces to conduct any routing. I don't understand this as pfsense, fortivm, etc is fully capable of using the direct pass-through to perform routing functions. I have to be missing something. Otherwise, Cisco is way behind.

[EROBERT]

Why does KVM need to control vswitching? Doesn't the 9800CL do this?

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/technical-reference/c9800-cl-dg.html#Deployingthe9800CLonLinuxKVM

[Rich R]

Those are questions only the Cisco developers can answer @EROBERT 

That is the way Cisco has designed it (not a matter of being behind or in front - just the way they chose to do it, for whatever reason), and they've provided the guidance on how to set it up as per their design.  If you want to use the product on KVM then you have to follow the guide to make it work.

If you want to raise an enhancement request for the product then discuss it with your Cisco account team and they will be able to raise an enhancement request bug for the Wireless Networks Business Unit to assess.  The request will need to have a supporting business case - meaning that it would generate $X of incremental business/revenue for Cisco to justify the time and cost of developing the enhancement.  Many such requests can be found in the Terminated status because they do not meet this key requirement.  If multiple customers ask for the same feature that can help it get prioritised but I'm not aware of a lot of people even using KVM for 9800-CL.