Chapter 13 Configuring Vrf Lite; Understanding Vrf Lite - Cisco ONS 15454 SDH Configuration Manual

Configuring VRF Lite
This chapter describes how to configure VPN Routing and Forwarding Lite (VRF Lite) for the
ML-Series cards. For additional information about the Cisco IOS commands used in this chapter, refer
to the Cisco IOS Command Reference publication. This chapter contains the following major sections:
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Note If you have already configured bridging, you may now proceed with configuring VRF Lite as an optional
step.

Understanding VRF Lite

VRF is an extension of IP routing that provides multiple routing instances. It provides a separate IP
routing and forwarding table to each VPN and is used in concert with MP-iBGP (Multi-Protocol internal
BGP) between provider equipment (PE) routers to provide Layer 3 MPLS-VPN. However, ML-Series
VRF implementation is without MP-iBGP. With VRF Lite, the ML Series is considered a PE-extension
or a customer equipment (CE)-extension. VRF Lite is considered a PE-extension since its has VRF (but
without MP-iBGP), and it is considered a CE-extension since this CE can have multiple VRFs and serves
many customer with one CE box.
Under VRF Lite, an ML-Series CE can have multiple interfaces/subinterfaces with PE for different
customers (while a normal CE is only for one customer). It holds VRFs (routing information) locally and
it does not distribute the VRFs to its connected PE. It uses VRF information to direct traffic to the correct
interfaces/subinterfaces when it receives traffic from customers' routers or from Internet service
provider (ISP) PE router(s).
Understanding VRF Lite, page 13-1
Configuring VRF Lite, page 13-2
VRF Lite Configuration Example, page 13-3
Monitoring and Verifying VRF Lite, page 13-7
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