os-vif

A library for plugging and unplugging virtual interfaces in OpenStack.

os-vif v5.1.0 111.5K downloads/30d#12,414 on PyPI

Permissive license Apache-2.0 Active released 2026-07-01

What it is and what it does

os-vif is an OpenStack library that abstracts the mechanics of attaching and detaching virtual network interfaces to compute instances. It provides a plugin-based architecture (via stevedore) for different network backends and vNIC types, allowing Nova and other OpenStack services to manage instance networking without directly coupling to specific network implementations.

The library depends on the Oslo family of libraries (concurrency, config, logging, serialization, versioned objects) and ovsdbapp for database operations, making it a core component of OpenStack's networking infrastructure. It is maintained as part of the OpenStack project and targets modern Python versions (3.11–3.13).

Use it for:

Attaching and detaching vNICs when provisioning or terminating OpenStack compute instances
Supporting multiple network backend implementations (OVS, Linux bridge, etc.) through a unified plugin interface
Managing virtual interface state and metadata in OpenStack Nova compute service
Enabling network configuration changes on running instances without service restart

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

os-vif provides a library for managing the lifecycle of virtual network interfaces in OpenStack environments, handling attachment and detachment of vNICs to compute instances.

Yes, if you are operating or developing within OpenStack infrastructure. This is a foundational library for instance networking in OpenStack and is required by Nova. For non-OpenStack use cases, it has no relevance. No known security vulnerabilities as of the query date.

Install

os-vif on PyPI

pip

pip install os-vif

uv

uv add os-vif

poetry

poetry add os-vif

Installing os-vif

Before you install

Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Active maintenance status with a release 44 days ago. Depends on 12 Oslo and OpenStack ecosystem libraries, all standard components in OpenStack deployments.

License in practice

Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.

Quickstart

pip install os-vif

from os_vif import objects
from os_vif import plugin

# Typically used by OpenStack Nova to manage vNIC lifecycle
plugin.register()

Requires Python 3.11 or later; intended for use within OpenStack infrastructure, not standalone applications.

Verify before relying

Whether this library is required only for OpenStack operator/administrator use or also for application developers building on OpenStack
Specific version compatibility guarantees with different OpenStack release series

Package facts

License	Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.11)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	12 — pbr, oslo.concurrency, oslo.config, oslo.log, oslo.i18n, oslo.privsep, oslo.serialization, oslo.utils, oslo.versionedobjects, ovsdbapp, stevedore, debtcollector
Maintenance	actively maintained — 44 days since the last release
First released	2016-05-17
Downloads	111,476/month — #12,414 on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-14)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14)

Evidence: os_vif-5.1.0-py3-none-any.whl

Environment :: OpenStackIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13