Ethernet VPN (EVPN)

Topics

Metaswitch DC-EVPN, combined with DC-BGP and DC-Label Manager,  delivers a complete Ethernet VPN solution architected to serve the requirements of service provider access and data center interconnect applications. 

Layer 2 VPNs are widely deployed in service provider networks where Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) is one of the most common technologies used for providing Layer 2 VPN services to enterprise customers and for Data Center Interconnect (DCI).  However, VPLS but lacks several features – such as MAC mobility, active-active redundancy, and fast convergence – that are of particular importance to Data Center networking.  RFC 7423 addresses these limitations by defining an operation of a new Layer 2 VPN solution based on BGP and MPLS called Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN).

DC-EVPN-Diagram

Metaswitch’s DC-EVPN component support the creation of both MPLS and VXLAN based EVPNS. DC-EVPN features include:

MPLS-based EVPN

When used in combination with the Metaswitch products detailed above, DC‑EVPN enables support for an L2VPN capable of carrying unicast IP traffic by supporting the following EVPN features.

  • Elimination of unknown unicast flooding in the provider network by using control plane MAC learning using the MAC/IP advertisement route.
  • Per-MAC label assignment.
  • Single homing of customer devices.
  • Port-based and VLAN-based service interfaces.
  • Elimination of ARP flooding in the provider network by advertising IP addresses in MAC/IP Advertisement Routes and using ARP proxy as defined in RFC 7432 section 10.
  • Auto-derivation of route targets as defined in RFC 7432 section 7.10.1.

VXLAN-based EVPN

DC‑EVPN supports the following features for VXLAN-based EVPN.

  • Provision of P2P and MP2MP EVPN services over a VXLAN data plane.
  • Support for the BGP Encapsulation Extended Community.
  • Support for single subnet per-EVI service interfaces.
  • Support for control plane MAC learning using the MAC/IP Advertisement Route.
  • Support for BUM traffic using the Inclusive Multicast Route and ingress replication.
  • Enabling ARP proxy operation through advertisement of IP addresses in MAC/IP Advertisement Routes.
  • Support for MAC mobility using the MAC Mobility Extended Community.
  • Multi-homing of customer devices.
  • Support for Asymmetric Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB).