Analyses network telemetry and topology data to compute optimal traffic engineering tunnels while providing stateful control for network optimization. It communicates with clients through a dedicated protocol to delegate tunnel control and push real-time updates to physical or virtual network devices.
Cisco Segment Routing Path Computation Element (SR-PCE) is a network control service that:
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Uses network telemetry and topology data to analyze and compute optimal traffic engineering (TE) tunnels,
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Provides stateful PCE functionality to control and reroute TE tunnels for network optimization,
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Enables a Path Computation Client (PCC) to report and delegate control of headend tunnels to a PCE peer, and
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Communicates with Path Computation Clients (PCCs) through the Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) to delegate tunnel control and push real-time updates to the network.
Cisco SR-PCE is delivered as part of the Cisco IOS XR operating system, and can run on both physical devices and virtual routers within virtual machines. Crosswork Network Controller discovers all devices in the IGP domain, including those that do not establish PCEP peering with SR-PCE. Note that PCEP peering is required to deploy TE tunnels.
To avoid any compatibility issues, refer to the Cisco Crosswork Network Controller Release Note for SR-PCE version support and compatibility.
For SR-PCE and HA configuration, see Cisco SR-PCE providers in the Cisco Crosswork Network Controller 7.2 Administration Guide.