Explains how EVPN MPLS technologies provide scalable and unified Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services, enabling efficient, secure, and simplified networking.
An Ethernet VPN (EVPN) is a networking technology that
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offers scalable and simplified Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services
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enables control-plane-based MAC learning using the MP-BGP protocol, and
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supports flexible data-plane encapsulations while maintaining a unified control plane.
Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP) is a routing protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information across multiple network layer protocols, enabling versatile and scalable network communication.
Ethernet architecture distinctly separates the control plane from the data plane, which significantly improves network scalability and simplifies operational management. EVPN supports efficient traffic load balancing and facilitates various service models, including E-LAN, E-LINE, and E-TREE, to meet diverse networking requirements.
Need for EVPN
Today, our networks have different protocols serving different purposes, which makes daily operations more complex than they need to be. This hinders the ability to deliver end-to-end services with speed and agility. As you deploy multiple geographically disparate data centers, they're looking for scalable and simplified network solutions to extend virtualization and cluster domains between multiple data centers.
The evolution of EVPN started due to the need for a scalable solution to bridge various layer 2 domains and overcome the limitations faced by VPLS, such as scalability, multihoming, and per-flow load balancing.
EVPN addresses the shortcomings of VPLS, including scalability, multihoming, and per-flow load balancing. EVPN provides secure and private connectivity for multiple sites within an organization spread across different geographical locations. EVPN uses MAC addresses as routable addresses and distributes them to all participating PEs through the MP-BGP EVPN control plane.
Starting with the Cisco IOS XR Release 24.3.1, line cards and routers equipped with the Q100, Q200, and P100-based Silicon One ASICs support EVPN MPLS.
To know more about EVPN, see https://e-vpn.io.
Benefits of EVPN
These are the key benefits of EVPN:
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Per flow-based load balancing—enables more granular load balancing of traffic across available paths.
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Scalability—offers a more scalable solution compared to previous L2VPN technologies.
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Reduced operational complexity—simplifies network operations by providing a unified approach for L2 and L3 VPN services.
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Improved network efficiency by eliminating flooding and learning—reduces or eliminates the need for flooding and learning in the data plane.
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Provides fast reroute, resiliency, fast reconvergence during link failure—offers mechanisms for fast reroute and reconvergence in case of link failures.
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Integrates L2 and L3 VPN services—integrates both Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services.