Cluster Networking Advice

I have four servers interconnected with direct 10-Gb fiber links, forming a peer-to-peer backend network. The hosts exchange routes using BIRD, and each server owns a portion of the 10.10.10.x network.

I recently installed Incus and created a cluster across these four machines. On top of the routed backend, I configured OVN networking. The cluster itself works fine and the containers/VMs can communicate internally.

However, containers and VMs cannot reach the internet.

My goal is for all Incus traffic (cluster communication and container networking) to stay on the 10-Gb backend network while still allowing outbound internet access.

Current design:

  • 4 hosts connected in a peer-to-peer 10-Gb fiber mesh

  • Routing handled by BIRD

  • Each host owns part of the 10.10.10.x network

  • Incus cluster running across the hosts

  • OVN configured over the routed backend network

Questions:

  1. Is this a reasonable architecture for an Incus cluster?

  2. What is the recommended way to provide internet access for containers/VMs in this setup?

  3. Should I be using OVN in this case, or would a simpler routed bridge approach be better?

I’d appreciate any advice from people running similar multi-host Incus setups. Maybe I’m over-engineering this which is likely.

I will post my config here. I ended up using bird completely to accomplish the same goal.