EVPN MPLS multihoming modes

Updated: June 10, 2026

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Explains EVPN MPLS multihoming modes, their redundancy benefits, supported service types, and key conceptual differences between E-LAN and E-LINE.

EVPN MPLS multihoming modes are redundancy techniques in EVPN deployments that

connect a customer edge device to multiple provider edge devices
provide redundant connectivity for enhanced reliability, and
ensure uninterrupted traffic flow during network failures.

Modes of EVPN multihoming

These multihoming modes are supported:

Single-active: Only one PE device in the group attached to the Ethernet segment forwards traffic to and from that segment. This mode prevents loops by allowing a single active forwarder.
All-active: All PEs connected to the Ethernet segment are permitted to forward traffic simultaneously. This mode enables load sharing and active-active redundancy.
Port-active: Traffic is sent and received only by the PE that is in active mode on a specific port or interface. This mode supports single-active redundancy with load balancing at the port or interface level.
Single-flow-active: The PE that first advertises a host MAC address in a VLAN forwards traffic for that specific flow. This mode optimizes forwarding by directing each flow through a single active PE.

EVPN MPLS multihoming mode services

EVPN MPLS multihoming supports both E-LAN and E-LINE services.

This table compares the key features and use cases of EVPN E-LAN and E-LINE services.

Table 1. EVPN E-LAN and E-LINE services
Feature	EVPN E-LAN	EVPN E-Line
Connectivity type	Multipoint-to-Multipoint	Point-to-Point
Typical use cases	Multi-site connectivity, interconnecting multiple locations	Data center interconnects, connecting two sites
MAC address learning	Across all endpoints in the E-LAN	Limited to two endpoints
Supported modes	All-active Single-active Port-active Single flow-active	All-active Single-active Port-active

While the configuration specifics differ between E-LAN and E-LINE services, their conceptual framework remains identical. Therefore, for conceptual understanding, the E-LAN documentation serves as the primary reference point for both services.

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