Install cloudSwXtch via OCI Marketplace

  • Updated on Jul 18, 2025
  • Published on Sep 13, 2023
  • 4 minute(s) read
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WHAT TO EXPECT 

In this article, users will learn how to deploy a cloudSwXtch instance via the Oracle Cloud Marketplace.

Please note: At this time, our only product offering in OCI is a BYOL instance of cloudSwXtch. This requires a user to contact swXtch.io for a license. 

Prerequisites

A user should have a Compartment established in their Oracle Cloud console before they start to deploy a cloudSwXtch. For more information about compartments, please see the Managing Compartments page under Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Documentation. 

Step One: Navigate to cloudSwXtch in the Oracle Marketplace

  1. Log into Oracle Cloud. 

  2. Navigate to the Oracle Cloud Marketplace using the Navigation menu at the top left corner. 

    OCI_Navigation

  3. Select Marketplace and All Applications. 

    OCI_BYOL-Marketplace

  4. Search for cloudSwXtch and select the product, cloudSwXtch BYOL. 

    OCI_BYOL-MarketplaceSearch

  5. Select the Version and the Compartment that you will like to use. It is best to use the default since it will be the most recent version. 

  6. Click Launch Instance when you're happy with your selections. 

    OCI_BYOL-MarketplaceProduct

Step Two: Create Compute Instance

  1. Give your Compute Instance a unique name. 
  2. Confirm that your desired Compartment is populated. 
  3. Optional: Edit selections for Placement and Security. This is dependent on a user's specific needs. OCI_BYOL-CreateComputeName
  4. Select the Change Shape button for Image and Shape. OCI-mkt- Image and shape - change shape
    1. Choose Intel and VM.Standard3.Flex. 
    2. Expand shape options.
    3. Configure the Number of OCPUs and Amount of memory (GB). Please note: It is recommended to have at least eight (8) cores for your cloudSwXtch instance. For more information on recommended sizing, please see cloudSwXtch System Requirements. 
    4. Click Select Shape when you're happy with your selection. OCI -mkt- Browse Shapes and select cpu and memory
  5. Select Advanced Options.
  6. Select Next.  This will bring you to the Security settings page, No security settings are required, select Next to get to Networking to enter in data for the Primary VNIC information.
    1. Optional: Add a name to your VNIC. If left blank, Oracle will assign it the name of your instance with a note that it is the Primary VNIC.
    2. Assign a VCN to your Primary VNIC.
    3. Select a subnet. Please note: This ctrl subnet will also be used for your secondary VNIC.
    4. Click on Advanced options. OCI-mkt - Networking
    5. Click on Show advanced options. 
    6. Select Hardware-assisted (SR-IOV) networking under Launch options.OCI-mkt - Networking- Advanced Options-Hardware-assisted 
  7. Scroll down and add an SSH key. OCI-mkt - Networking- Advanced Options-ssh
  8. For all the other tabs fill out data as appropriate, for example if you use tags or want more storage then add that data.
  9. Hit Create button when you're happy with all of your selections. 

Step Three: Attach a Secondary VNIC

When deploying a cloudSwXtch, you will need two VNICs. Both can share a single subnet for control and data plane communications. In this step, we will walkthrough how to attach your secondary VNIC and how to manually add its IP to your cloudSwXtch instance. 

  1. Make sure that your Instance with cloudSwXtch installed is running. You cannot attach a secondary VNIC if the machine is off. 

  2. Select Create VNIC under Networking. 

  3. Click Create VNIC.

    OCI - Create NIC

    1. Pro-Tip: Assign your secondary VNIC a user-friendly name. Otherwise, Oracle will assign a randomized ID. 

    2. Choose the same Virtual cloud network and data Subnet as your Secondary VNIC. 

    3. Select Submit Changes.

      OCI - Create NIC2

  4. Click on the freshly created VNIC's name after it finishes attaching. 

    OCI - Create NIC3-attached

  5. Select the ellipsis next to the Secondary data VNIC and Record the Private IP  and the MAC address. You will need it later.

    OCI -Data Private IP

  6. Log into your Instance with cloudSwXtch installed.

  7. Create the following file in the /etc/netplan folder and name it 02-datanic-static-config.yaml. Please note: You will need to add the Private IP Address and the correct mac address of the secondary VNIC into the file below. 

    network:
                version: 2
                ethernets:
                    ens4:
                        match:
                            macaddress: --<ADD macaddress of primary of 2nd VNIC> --
                        dhcp4: false
                        addresses:
                            - <ADD Primary IP ADDRESS OF 2ND VNIC>/<XX>

    Where the <XX> is the net mask (or network mask) of ctrl-plane CIDR (in single-subnet configuration). Example:

network:
                version: 2
                ethernets:
                    ens4:
                        match:
                            macaddress: 02:00:17:31:7E:E8
                        dhcp4: false
                        addresses: 
						- 10.0.138.84/24

8.  Apply the new config (sudo netplan apply).

9.  Save file and reboot instance. 

The secondary VNIC should now be successfully attached.

Upgrading your cloudSwXtch

After deployment, it is recommended to update your cloudSwXtch instance to latest. Please refer to the Upgrading cloudSwXtch article for more information. 

Optional Step for BYOL: Contact swXtch.io for a license

Users deploying a BYOL instance of cloudSwXtch will need to contact swXtch.io for a license file. For more information. see How to License a cloudSwXtch. 

NEXT STEPS

The cloudSwXtch is ready to use. The next step is to install the xNIC on each client expected to get traffic from the cloudSwXtch. See Installing xNIC for more information on preparing clients.  Refer to Licensing cloudSwXtch to license your cloudSwXtch.