Continuing the compilation of videos from the multi-vendor interoperability testing conducted at EANTC. We are pleased to present the collaboration of Arista, Cisco, Keysight, and Nokia experts.
They demonstrate how Ethernet VPN (EVPN) solutions address critical challenges in segment routing networks from load balancing management to multi-domain connectivity. These demonstrations underscore the robustness and efficiency of EVPN solutions and showcase their importance in improving network scalability and resiliency.
EVPN All-Active Distributed Anycast Gateway
The experts Jiri Chaloupka from Cisco and Diego Achaval from Nokia demonstrate the results of multi-vendor testing at EANTC. Ethernet VPNs (EVPNs) are the workhorse of segment routing networks—they provide all sorts of secure virtual connectivity. In the past, one major issue has been the redundancy and robustness of service connections, specifically at the edge. All-active distributed anycast gateways resolve these issues in a standardized way.
EVPN Weighted Load Balancing
In the EANTC Multi-Vendor Interoperability Testing, Jiri Chaloupka (Cisco) and Diego Achaval (Nokia) discuss EVPN Weighted Load Balancing. Ethernet VPNs (EVPNs) typically do not care for the path through the network – this is calculated as a shorted path by routing protocols in the segment routing network. In some cases, however, balancing the load of EVPN end-to-end traffic across multiple paths is essential. The vendors participating in this demo have tested standardized, more advanced load balancing for EVPN services, where the loads on each tunnel can be weighted per operator preferences.
EVPN-VXLAN Multi-Domain testing with D-Path
We present a live demo with industry experts Mitch Vaughan (Arista), Diego Achaval (Nokia), and Sayantan Pramanick (Keysight), which is focused on Ethernet VPNs (EVPN) realized in VXLAN-based networks. VXLAN is typically found in data centers. These networks can grow beyond the local area, requiring inter-domain routing of EVPN traffic. Without precaution, routing across multiple domains could end up in loops or lead to sub-optimal paths. The BGP Domain Path (“D-Path”) extension avoids these situations by providing domain information at the inter-domain gateway in a standardized way.
EVPN ELAN Multi-Homing All-Active over SRv6
Ethernet VPNs (EVPNs) are the workhorse of segment routing networks. While advanced features such as load balancing and redundancy are well sorted within the Segment Routing networks, it can still be challenging to convey those services reliably at the edge toward customer premises equipment (CPEs). Connecting enterprise locations with multiple links for redundancy, aka multi-homing, has been available for a long time. Usually, this comes with a lot of overhead because only one of the two links is used at a time. Jiri Chaloupka (Cisco) and Diego Achaval (Nokia) explain how multi-vendor testing of all-active multi-homing was successful, using Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) technology. Mainly, ELAN multi-point services have been tested in the all-active multi-homing scenario. EVPN needs to maintain a list of endpoint Ethernet addresses to understand where to send traffic without creating loops in a multi-homing scenario, which increases the challenge.
Keep an eye out for our publications. They will show how these innovations are shaping the future of networking technology, ensuring multi-vendor interoperability and readiness for next-generation demands. You can also read the full report here.
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