Re: VXLAN for WAN Pseudowires?

[Aftab Siddiqui <aftab.siddiqui () gmail com>]

Hi Simon,
In the previous job, we used it in a similar scenario and from that
experience

×
×
What works fine across end points: Routing protocols (OSPF, BGP), VLAN,
QinQ, Multicast
What doesn't' work across end points: LLDP, LACP, CoS preservation (you can
remark), 802.1x

So, test your requirements in the lab (as you are already doing it), its
not a VPLS replacement in many ways but it worked like a charm in our
requirement. We used Open-network boxes (Dell, HP, etc) along with
CumulusLinux (Dell OS9 also has VXLAN support). Arista (Trident II/II+)
also works fine with EOS. All these switches were and still are for DC but
they are extremely cheaper than NCS5000 series and works fine.

On Thu, 20 Jul 2017 at 19:14 Simon Lockhart <simon () slimey org> wrote:

> All,
>
> I'm currently going through a network design for an upgrade for one of the
> networks I run. Much of the wide-area traffic on the network is used purely
> to transport Ethernet tail circuits back from an edge PoP to a core PoP.
> Currently we're using Extreme X460 and X670 switches to achieve this,
> carrying
> the tail circuits within VPLS.
>
> Two things are making me look at a change of solution for this - firstly
> Extreme have stated that they're not interested in the service provider
> market any more (and reflected this in significant reductions in
> discounts),
> and secondly we need to look at higher bandwidth port options (40G + 100G,
> particularly for backhaul circuits).
>
> As we're primarily a Cisco house, I've been looking at suitable
> replacements,
> and the Nexus 9k range looks good - 92160YC and 9236C in particular.
> However,
> this would mean a shift from VPLS to VXLAN. We're also looking at
> Cisco-like
> products, such as the Arista range.
>
> We've been doing some testing in the lab, and so far, things look good -
> it's
> easy to configure, and appears to do the job of getting packets from A to
> B.
>
> We do have two concerns, though:
>
> 1) Cisco are strongly advising against using the Nexus switches in a WAN
>    scenario - as they're designed for "datacentre" use. They've so far said
>    they can't find anyone who can help validate designs using Nexus, and
>    instead are pushing us towards the NCS-5000 series switches. Same
> chipset,
>    but 2-3 times the price! NCS does, however, support VPLS, so would be an
>    easier drop-in to our existing network.
>
> 2) Traffic engineering - we don't have a lot of requirement for this, but
> do
>    have a small number of customers who buy A and B circuits, and require
> them
>    to be routed across different paths on our network. This is easy with
> MPLS
>    using explicit LSPs, but we've not yet worked out how to achieve the
> same
>    thing in VXLAN.
>
> So, my question to the community is - have any of you used VXLAN as a
> wide-area
> layer 2 transport technology? Any pros or cons? Gotchas? Scare stories?
> Recommendations? Am I trying to shoot myself in the foot?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Simon
-- 
Best Wishes,

Aftab A. Siddiqui