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Layer 3 MPLS VPN

Layer 3 MPLS VPN is a type of Provider Edge based L3VPN technology. It uses dynamic protocol to advertise VPN routes and MPLS to forward VPN packets on service provider backbones.

The MPLS L3VPN is based on the following types of devices:

• Customer Edge device – It is the customer network and may have one or more interfaces directly connected with service provider networks. It can be any networking device like a router, a switch, or a host. It is unaware of the existence of any VPN and does not need to support MPLS.
• Provider Edge device – It is the service provider network and connects one or more customers or CE to the network. All the processing of VPN occurs on the PEs, on the MPLS network.
• Provider device – On a service provider network, it is the core device. It is not connected with any CE directly. It just needs to be equipped with basic capability of MPLS forwarding.

The connectivity between the customers is made with the help of VRFs.

VRF devices when combined with IP rules provides the possibility to create virtual routing and forwarding. With an associated route table a VRF device is created. Network interfaces are then configured to a VRF device. When VRFs are used, the VRF needs to be assigned to an interface to get the VRF to working.

The above mentioned features are offered and supported by VCL-MX-50xx family of IP/MPLS Routers.