"Extreme Extended Edge" (also known as Virtual Port Extender - VPEX) is a new technology that was first introduced to the EXOS operating system with release 22.5. The solution itself is based on the IEEE 802.1BR (Bridge Port Extension) standard, and as part of the EXOS 22.5 release, support for the new ExtremeSwitching V400 hardware line was added.
"VPEX Bridge" is a virtual switch consisting of such components as - Controlling Bridge (CB) and Bridge Port Extender (BPE). To ensure fault tolerance, it is possible to connect to two CBs within one virtual switch using MLAG technology. The design of such a virtual switch directly resembles a classic chassis switch or a stack of switches. And if in the logic of the βControl Planeβ this is more or less true, then the work of the βData Planeβ differs quite dramatically. After all, the purpose of 802.1br is to connect a remote port to a local MAC (Media Access Control) service, while isolating the traffic of remote ports.
Controlling Bridge
- One and only control point
- All configuration takes place locally on CB
- VPEX support must be activated, reboot required to change operating mode
- CB always slot #1
- In the current release, CB supports simultaneous connection of up to 48 BPE
- CB mode is supported on certain hardware platforms (currently X670G2 and X690, other platforms will be added as they become available)
- EXOS licenses apply only to CB
- VPEX does not require additional licenses
- Fully responsible for data-plane processing and traffic filtering
- Contains a virtual representation of each "extended" port
Bridge Port Extender
- BPE devices are managed as chassis switch slots
- BPE slots are numbered from 100 to 162
Slot-1 VPEX X690-48x-2q-4c.3 # show slot
Slots Type Configured State Ports Flags
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slot-1 X690-48x-2q-4c X690-48x-2q-4c Operational 72 M
Slot-100 V400-48t-10GE4 V400-48t-10GE4 Operational 52 M
Slot-101 V400-48t-10GE4 V400-48t-10GE4 Operational 52 M
Slot-102 V400-48t-10GE4 V400-48t-10GE4 Operational 52 M
Slot-103 V400-48t-10GE4 V400-48t-10GE4 Operational 52 M
- No need for console or Out-of-Band IP connection to BPE
- All configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, diagnostics is carried out through the CB interface
Slot-1 VPEX X670G2-48x-4q.8 # config vlan v100 add port 100:1,100:3
*Slot-1 VPEX X670G2-48x-4q.9 # show port 100:1-3 statistics no-refresh
Port Link Tx Pkt Tx Byte Rx Pkt Rx Byte Rx Pkt Tx Pkt
State Count Count Count Count Mcast Mcast
====== ===== ========== =========== ========== =========== ======= ========
100:1 A 2126523437 >9999999999 0 0 0 14383
100:2 R 0 0 0 0 0 0
100:3 A 21824 4759804 2126738453 >9999999999 0 14383
====== ===== ========== =========== ========== =========== ======= ========
- BPEs do not perform local switching. As a result, all traffic is tunneled to the CB and, if necessary, forwarded to the neighboring port of the same BPE slot, returned back. (BPE receives packet adds E-TAG header and sends it to upstream port)
To work as a BPE, a new ExtremeSwitching V400 hardware platform is introduced. It includes port expanders for 24/48 10/100/1000 Base-T ports with or without PoE support. 24-port models have two 10G ports, 48-port models have four 10G ports.
work Features
Topologies with one or two CBs and up to four cascaded BPEs are supported. Cascaded ports can be combined into a LAG (up to 4 ports for V400-48t/p models). End stations can connect to different BPE slots using LAG.
BPE detection and operation is based on protocols such as:
- LLDP - initial detection and determination of the type and capabilities of the connected device
- ECP - "Edge Control Protocol" transport for PE-CSP
- PE-CSP - "Port Extender Control and Status Protocol" configuring BPE control with Controlling Bridge
- LACP - setting LAG between "cascade" <β> "upstream" ports
If a failover design with two CBs and MLAG is used, then when one CB is rebooted, the BPEs will continue to send traffic through the remaining Controlling Bridge. If the only CB is rebooted, then the BPE will administratively disable its "extended" ports.
For the convenience of configuring the topology with 2 CBs, the ability to configure the MLAG ports of both peers from any of the CBs has been added. The mode is called "mlag orchestration", while the peers synchronize the part of the config related to the MLAG port settings. The setup is similar to setting up custom "virtual-routers".
Slot-1 VPEX X670G2-48x-4q.11 # start orchestration mlag "bottom"
(orchestration bottom) Slot-1 VPEX X670G2-48x-4q.12 # exit
Slot-1 VPEX X670G2-48x-4q.13 #
The "Controlling Bridge" functionality is available after installing the free module for EXOS, which has the .xmod extension. This same module will hold the update images for BPE. Actually, when CB and BPE detect each other, CB checks the firmware version installed on the BPE and, if necessary, automatically updates it.
The above features of functioning make it as simple and quick as possible to replace the BPE slot if necessary. Since the BPE slots do not store the config and are not bound in any way in the system, immediately after the device is replaced and the power is turned on, the BPE will detect the CB and apply the existing config, also if the firmware needs to be updated.
This solution is well suited for networks with a predominant North/South traffic direction, such as campus networks, enterprise networks in logistics, education, business centers, and others. And once again we repeat that the advantages of networks built on the Extreme Extended Edge solution will be:
- Reducing the number of layers of traditional network architecture in terms of configuration and management
- Ease of scaling and deployment
- No need to have dedicated console or OOB Mgmt connections to BPE slots
- Licensing reduction (if necessary, apply only to NE)
- Single point of configuration, monitoring and troubleshooting
- Display in NMS as one switch
- No need for additional training and staff expansion
Source: habr.com