Configure Shaping Bridge

Choose Bridge Type

There are two options for the bridge to pass data through your two interfaces:

Option A: Regular Linux Bridge (Recommended)
Option B: Bifrost XDP-Accelerated Bridge

The regular Linux bridge is recommended for most installations. The Linux Bridge continues to move data even if the lqosd service is in a failed state, making this a generally safer option in scenarios where a backup route is not in place. It works best with Nvidia/Mellanox NICs such as the ConnectX-5 series (which have superior bridge performance), and VM setups using virtualized NICs. The Bifrost XDP Bridge is recommended for 40G-100G Intel NICs with XDP support.

Below are the instructions to configure Netplan, whether using the Linux Bridge or Bifrost XDP bridge:

Note

The Network Mode page in the LibreQoS web UI now inspects the current Netplan files, offers eligible non-management interfaces in dropdowns, stages managed libreqos.yaml changes for Linux bridge and single-interface modes, applies them with a timed LibreQoS rollback window, and lets you confirm or revert the pending change. You can also restore the previous managed backup from that page. XDP bridge mode remains a manual Netplan workflow.

Note

Current first-run setup only offers Linux Bridge and Single Interface for new installs. If LibreQoS detects an existing XDP deployment, setup preserves that legacy XDP mode and warns before you migrate away from it.

Note

If a timed Netplan change briefly interrupts your browser session, return to the Network Mode page after connectivity comes back. LibreQoS will resume the pending confirm or revert flow from that page automatically.

Option A: Netplan config for a regular Linux bridge (Recommended)

Ubuntu Server uses NetPlan, which uses .yaml files in /etc/netplan to determine interface settings. Here, we will add a .yaml specifically for LibreQoS - that way it is not overwritten when changes are made to the default .yaml file.

sudo nano /etc/netplan/libreqos.yaml

Assuming your shaping interfaces are ens19 and ens20, here is what your file would look like:

network:
    ethernets:
        ens19:
            dhcp4: false
            dhcp6: false
        ens20:
            dhcp4: false
            dhcp6: false
    bridges:
        br0:
            interfaces:
            - ens19
            - ens20
    version: 2

Note

Please be sure to replace ens19 and ens20 in the example above with the correct shaping interfaces. The order of the interfaces does not matter for this section.

By setting dhcp4: false and dhcp6: false, the shaping interfaces will be brought up as part of the normal boot cycle, despite not having IP addresses assigned.

Then run

sudo chmod 600 /etc/netplan/libreqos.yaml
sudo netplan apply

Option B: Netplan config for the Bifrost XDP bridge

Ubuntu Server uses NetPlan, which uses .yaml files in /etc/netplan to determine interface settings. Here, we will add a .yaml specifically for LibreQoS - that way it is not overwritten when changes are made to the default .yaml file.

sudo nano /etc/netplan/libreqos.yaml

Assuming your shaping interfaces are ens19 and ens20, here is what your file would look like:

network:
    ethernets:
        ens19:
            dhcp4: false
            dhcp6: false
        ens20:
            dhcp4: false
            dhcp6: false
    version: 2

Note

Please be sure to replace ens19 and ens20 in the example above with the correct shaping interfaces. The order of the interfaces does not matter for this section.

By setting dhcp4: false and dhcp6: false, the shaping interfaces will be brought up as part of the normal boot cycle, despite not having IP addresses assigned.

Then run

sudo chmod 600 /etc/netplan/libreqos.yaml
sudo netplan apply

To use the XDP bridge, please be sure to set use_xdp_bridge to true in lqos.conf in the Configuration section.