Layer 3 VPNs (L3VPN)

Cisco provides IP and MPLS-based network virtualization solutions for enterprise and service provider customers.

MPLS Layer 3 VPNs use a peer-to-peer model that uses Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to distribute VPN-related information. This highly scalable, peer-to-peer model allows enterprise subscribers to outsource routing information to service providers, resulting in significant cost savings and a reduction in operational complexity for enterprises. Service providers can then offer value-added services like Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Engineering, allowing network convergence that encompasses voice, video, and data.

IP-based VPNs use the next-generation Virtual Routing/Forwarding instance (VRF)-Lite, called Easy Virtual Network (EVN). This simplifies Layer 3 network virtualization and allows customers to easily provide traffic separation and path isolation on a shared network infrastructure, removing the need to deploy MPLS in the enterprise network. EVN is fully integrated with traditional MPLS-VPN or MPLS VPNomGRE.