Configuring Vpls; Vpls Overview; Operation Of Vpls - HP 12500 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring VPLS

NOTE:
The switch operates in IRF or standalone (the default) mode. For more information about IRF mode, see
•
IRF Configuration Guide
The switch does not support VPLS when the system works in normal mode. For more information about
•
system working modes, see

VPLS overview

Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS), also called "Transparent LAN Service (TLS)" or "virtual private
switched network service", can deliver a point-to-multipoint L2VPN service over public networks. With
VPLS, geographically-dispersed sites can interconnect and communicate over MAN or WAN as if they
were on the same LAN.
VPLS provides Layer 2 VPN services. However, it supports multipoint services, rather than the
point-to-point services that traditional VPN supports. With VPLS, service providers can create on the PEs
a series of virtual switches for customers, allowing customers to build their LANs across the Metropolitan
Area Network (MAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).

Operation of VPLS

Basic VPLS concepts
CE—Customer edge device that is directly connected to the service provider network.
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PE—Provider edge device that connects one or more CEs to the service provider network. A PE
•
maps and forwards packets between private networks and public network tunnels. A PE can be a
UPE or NPE.
UPE—User facing provider edge device that functions as the user access convergence device.
•
NPE—Network provider edge device that functions as the network core PE. An NPE resides at the
•
edge of a VPLS network core domain and provides transparent VPLS transport services between
core networks.
• VSI—Virtual switch instance that maps actual access links to virtual links.
PW—Pseudo wire, a bidirectional virtual connection between VSIs. A PW consists of two
•
unidirectional MPLS virtual circuits (VCs).
AC—Attachment circuit that connects the CE to the PE. It can use physical interfaces or virtual
•
interfaces. Usually, all user packets on an AC, including Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocol messages,
must be forwarded to the peer site without being changed.
QinQ—802.1Q in 802.1Q, a tunneling protocol based on 802.1Q. It offers a point-to-multipoint
•
L2VPN service mechanism. With QinQ, the private network VLAN tags of packets are
encapsulated into the public network VLAN tags, allowing packets to be transmitted with two layers
of tags across the service provider network. This provides a simpler Layer 2 VPN tunneling service.
Forwarders—A forwarder functions as the VPLS forwarding table. Once a PE receives a packet from
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an AC, the forwarder selects a PW for forwarding the packet.
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Fundamentals Configuration Guide
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