Magreth,

you would need to look at the code to find the usage. The plugin interface would be the simplest and most complete today. There are multiple examples of how to use the interface listed below.

plugin:
api: ovsdb/plugin/src/main/java/org/opendaylight/ovsdb/plugin/api/*.java
usage:
- ovsdb/integrationtest/src/test/java/org/opendaylight/ovsdb/integrationtest/plugin/OvsdbPluginV3IT.java
Look at printCache(). That method shows how to use the OvsdbConfigurationService api getTables(). This will dump the whole db.

- ovsdb/openstack/net-virt/src/main/java/org/opendaylight/ovsdb/openstack/netvirt/SouthboundHandler.java
Looking at the SouthboundHandler in nodeAdded() you would get a callback that indicates an ovsdb node is connected. After that you can retrieve all the whole db.
There also also callbacks like rowAdded and rowUpdated which correspond to a new row and updated rows in the db.

- ovsdb/plugin/src/main/java/org/opendaylight/ovsdb/plugin/impl/ConnectionServiceImpl.java
monitorTables(): shows how to setup a monitor and get callbacks when any change is made to the db. Use this to build a cache. Though it is easier to just use the OvsdbListenerService and get the updates or request the whole db using getTables

mdsal: look for monitor code: ovsdb/southbound/southbound-impl/src/main/java/org/opendaylight/ovsdb/southbound/OvsdbMonitorCallback.java
Similar to the previous comment, you can build your own cache of the db.

Thanks, Sam

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Magreth Mushi" <mjmushi@...>

> To: "Sam Hague" <shague@...>
> Cc: ovsdb-dev@...
> Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2015 5:58:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [ovsdb-dev] Executing command in the OVSwitch
>
> Thank you Sam, java plugin sounds promising. Is there any documentation on
> how I can go about this? or any of the options you have mentioned?
>
> Best,
> Magreth
>
> Sent from my mobile device.
> On Mar 4, 2015 11:10 PM, "Sam Hague" <shague@...> wrote:
>
> > Magreth,
> >
> > you can get the whole ovsdb db. The ovsdb project has multiple methods to
> > retrieve the db. There is a northbound REST api, there is a java plugin
> > interface, there is a mdsal interface in the works and you could write an
> > app listening in on the library.
> >
> > Using the plugin interface will work today and give you the whole ovsdb
> > db. Using the mdsal interface would give you a much smaller subset and is a
> > work in progress. You could lift out the monitor piece of the mdsal code
> > and build a local cache of the db also.
> >
> > Thanks, Sam
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Magreth Mushi" <mjmushi@...>
> > > To: ovsdb-dev@...
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 9:12:12 PM
> > > Subject: [ovsdb-dev] Executing command in the OVSwitch
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am running opendaylight controller and mininet network; I have
> > developed
> > > MD-SAL plugin and at this point I would like to get switch config by
> > > executing " ovs-vsctl show" from the plugin. Is there anyway I can do
> > this?
> > > In the conventional network I usually use a script that ssh into the
> > device
> > > and execute the equivalent command (e.g show run) using expect4j(in
> > java) or
> > > pexpect(in Python). Is there any equivalent strategy in ODL?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > --Magreth
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > ovsdb-dev mailing list
> > > ovsdb-dev@...
> > > https://lists.opendaylight.org/mailman/listinfo/ovsdb-dev
> > >
> >
>