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RE: MPLS L2 VPN end L3 VPN

  • From: Ravi Bhagavathula <ravi.bhagavathula@wichita.edu>
  • Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 10:39:13 -0600
  • Cc: mpls-ops@mplsrc.com
  • Importance: Normal
  • Organization: Wichita State University
  • Resent-Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 12:49:38 -0500
  • To: "'Sonali Francis'" <Sonali.Francis@lntinfotech.com>, "'Alexandre Carlos de Oliveira'" <alexandre@redes.unb.br>

I am not quite sure what do you mean by the scaling problem associated
with a Layer 2 VPN. Since the PE routers are no longer peering with the
CE routers, the need for separate VRFs is eliminated leading to a more
scalable implementation of a VPN. 

Further, I agree that the Layer 2 implementation of a VPN is limited to
a specific transport medium but there do exist provisions for
constructing a Layer 2 VPN with two different layer 2 networks at the
two ends of the PseudoWire. I am told that these features are vendor
specific. I know for a fact that Cisco boxes do not support this (at
least, not yet!)

Ravi Bhagavathula
Wichita State University



-----Original Message-----
From: Sonali Francis [mailto:Sonali.Francis@lntinfotech.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 7:20 AM
To: Alexandre Carlos de Oliveira
Cc: mpls-ops@mplsrc.com
Subject: Re: [MPLS-OPS]: MPLS L2 VPN end L3 VPN



Here are some ideas on Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN:

The Layer 2 VPN is mainly based on overlay model where PE maps maps
incoming Layer 2 traffic onto the appropriate point-to-point tunnel.
Simple point-to-point tunnels are established on an provider's network
to handle various forms of Layer 2 traffic (Ethernet, frame relay, ATM,
TDM, and PPP/HDLC). From the peering aspect, CE router is peer to CE
router; PE is not a peer to the CE and does not maintain separate
routing tables. No L3 processing of the customer packet takes place in
PE.

The Advantages are
1. Advantageous where direct interoperability with existing Layer 2 VPN
deployments is important. 2. Layer 2's MPLS "overlay" model is  more
attractive for carriers with existing Layer 2 VPN

Disadvantages are
1. Scaling problem: Lack the scope of routed networks, limiting a Layer
2 implementation to the confines of the transport medium

The Layer 3 VPN is based on Peer-to-peer Model. In case of Layer 3 MPLS
VPN, it is implemented by using two-level label stack.  The ingress PE
router pushes both a Next-Hop BGP header (for the private network) and a
Next-Hop Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) header (for the shared
infrastructure) onto the packet. After reaching the egress PE router via
one or more MPLS Label Switched Paths (LSPs), the PE pops the MPLS
headers and delivers a normal IP packet to the customer. In this case CE
routers peers with PE routers.

The advantages are
1.Ubiquity of IP networks over multiple transport networks.
2. Multiple customers having IP running over different data link layer
can form a VPN. 3.Dynamic VPNs by virtue of strong automatic route
discovery. 4. Economical for ISPs that already use BGP extensively and
have already deployed high-end IP/MPLS routing equipment at the edge.
But Disadvantage is this is more complex and expensive

http://lambdanet.net/userfiles/france/download/white_paper/Keep_it_Simpl
e_with_BGP_MPLS_VPN_LambdaNet.pdf

      is quite informative. But it is to be noted that Layer 2 or layer
3 VPN can exist in non-MPLS domain too.

Please correct me if I am wrong....

Regards,
Sonali



 

                      Alexandre Carlos

                      de Oliveira              To:
<mpls-ops@mplsrc.com>                             
                      <alexandre@redes.        cc:

                      unb.br>                  Subject:  [MPLS-OPS]:
MPLS L2 VPN end L3 VPN                
 

                      26/03/2003 11:16

                      PM

 

 





Can some one tell me whats the difference between L2 VPN and L3 VPN?

Alex


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