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EVPN

Jan 20, 20252 min read

EVPN (Ethernet VPN) is a networking technology designed to provide highly scalable and flexible Layer 2 and Layer 3 virtual private network (VPN) services over IP/MPLS networks. It is defined in RFC 7432 and is commonly used in data centers, service provider networks, and enterprise WANs.

Key Concepts of EVPN:

  1. Layer 2 and Layer 3 Support:

    • EVPN extends Ethernet connectivity across geographically dispersed locations while also supporting Layer 3 IP routing.

  2. Control Plane:

    • EVPN uses MP-BGP (Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol) to distribute Layer 2 and Layer 3 reachability information. This is more efficient than traditional flooding methods like MAC learning in typical Layer 2 networks.

  3. Overlay Networking:

    • EVPN can act as an overlay solution, running over an IP/MPLS network. It uses VXLAN, MPLS, or other tunneling protocols to encapsulate traffic.

  4. MAC Address Learning:

    • Instead of relying on flooding to learn MAC addresses, EVPN uses the control plane (BGP) for efficient MAC distribution, improving scalability and reducing unnecessary broadcast traffic.

  5. Multi-Homing and Redundancy:

    • EVPN supports active-active or active-standby multi-homing for resiliency and load balancing when connecting to multiple endpoints or devices.

  6. EVPN-VXLAN:

    • A common implementation involves EVPN working with VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) to extend Layer 2 domains over Layer 3 networks, especially in data center interconnects.

Benefits of EVPN:

  • Scalability: Efficient handling of large networks with many devices and locations.
  • Flexibility: Support for both Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services.
  • Improved Resiliency: Built-in multi-homing capabilities for redundancy and fault tolerance.
  • Operational Efficiency: Reduces broadcast traffic by using BGP for control-plane learning.
  • Seamless Data Center Interconnect: Extends VLANs across data centers with ease.
  • Interoperability: Works with existing MPLS, IP, and VXLAN-based networks.

Common Use Cases:

  1. Data Center Interconnect (DCI):
    • Connects multiple data centers and provides consistent Layer 2/3 connectivity.
  2. Service Provider Networks:
    • Supports Ethernet-based VPN services for enterprise customers.
  3. Campus Networks:
    • Extends VLANs across campus environments.
  4. Enterprise WANs:
    • Replaces traditional MPLS L2/L3 VPNs for branch office connectivity.

Vendor Specific

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