MPLS Layer 3 VPN PE-CE RIP

This topic is to discuss the following lesson::

Thanks for great lesson.
I’m quite new to Vpn l3. Could you explain about label stack of vpn packet when it travels from CE1 to PE1, then through isp , then out on PE2, then to CE2. Tks !!

For sure, it’s explained here:

MPLS Labels and Devices

Hi,

Thank you for the this great site.

Can we redistribute into OSPF instead of redistributing into BGP.

Thanks
Akram

Hi Akram,

Redistributing RIP into OSPF is no problem but you can’t use it for MPLS VPN. You need BGP since it has address families for VPN routes.

Rene

Hi Rene,
Very nice explanation. I have a general question: We are using IGP between PE-CE routers, Aren’t we only allowed to use e-BGP between different AS routers?

Hi Zeeshan,

In an MPLS PE-CE scenario, you can use IGPs or BGP. Even static routes are possible.

Rene

Hello Rene,

I have the lab for MPLS L3 VPN and RIP is my IGP.

I could see all the routes but not able to R5 loopback 0 from R1 with source address of loopback 0 and vice versa.

I could see the 5.0.0.0 routes on R1 and 1.0.0.0.0 routes on R5.

Please help me if I am missing something.

Hello mohammed

In order to be able to help you we’d need a little more information. Have you attempted connectivity between the Fa0/0 interfaces on CE1 and CE2? (I assume when you say R1 and R5 you mean CE1 and CE2). If that is not successful, you should check out the configurations on all your routers. If it is successful, check to make sure the Lo interfaces are participating in BGP.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz

Hi Rene.
Will you please advise me how do I advertise loopback I/F of PE1 to CE1?
I have added

PE1(config)#router rip
PE1(config-router)#address-family ipv4 vrf CUSTOMER
PE1(config-router-af)#version 2
PE1(config-router-af)#no auto-summary 
PE1(config-router-af)#network 192.168.12.0
**PE1(config-router-af)#network 2.2.2.2**
and even
**PE1(config-router-af)#redistribute connnected**

It seems the PE1 are not advertise its loopback to CE1.
Thanks.

Hello Shang

This behaviour is normal. Not only that, it is actually desired. The whole purpose of the MPLS Layer 3 VPN is to be able to create a transparent MPLS VPN between the two CE routers as if they are directly connected to each other. You’ve configured the Loopback to participate in the RIP routing, but you’ve also configured the ip vrf forwarding CUSTOMER VRF on the customer facing Fa0/0 interface and the mpls ldp autoconfig on the network facing interface. This will cause all additional network interfaces to be “inside the VPN” and not visible to the RIP process.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz

Hello lagapides
Thank you for your kindly explaination.
I also find some hint in the next few lessons.
S

1 Like

Hello Rene,

I understand that bet PE and CE we can use RIP/BGP/OSPF as well.

But can we use BGP in the Core Service provider network (bet PE1, P and PE2 routers), or we only have to use OSPF as our IGP in the core MPLS network?

Can any other protocol (except OSPF as shown here) can be used as IGP in MPLS cloud network?

Hello Viral,

You’ll need an IGP so that your IBGP routers know how to reach each other. Here is an example:

Another IGP is no problem, you could use EIGRP or IS-IS.

Rene

thanks Rene,

So we cant use eBGP bet PE1,PE and PE2 routers right? I tried using eBGP, tht did not worked.

It worked fine with OSPF.

Also, 1 more thing, can we use eBGP between PE 1 and PE2 routers (edge routers), or only iBGP works?

I tried with eBGP between PE1 and PE2, it did not work. It worked fine with iBGP.

Hi Viral,

Technically, you should be able to make it work. In a scenario like this, the PE and P routers belong to a single SP so it’s more likely that they use a single AS internally.

Rene

Hello Rene,

How do we generate a VPN label ? I understand we need VPN label in VRF to route it properly from egress PE to CE. But how do we get it? i may have missed it in the lessons, sorry for that.

Regards,
Akshay

Hello Akshay

When you enable iBGP on the PE routers, you enable the use of VPNv4 routes, and thus the creation of VPN labels. This is enabled when you configure iBGP between PE1 and PE2. Once that’s done there’s no need for any further configurations to enable VPN labels.

I hope this has been helpful!

Laz