Cisco Ethernet VPN (EVPN) Case Studies for Service Provider and Data Center Network

In the presentation by Jiri Chaloupka, a deep dive into Cisco’s Ethernet VPN (EVPN) over IOS XR portfolio was provided, emphasizing the ongoing investment in service overlays. Chaloupka outlined the evolution of network underlays and overlays, highlighting the transition from traditional MPLS and IP-based underlays in service provider and data center networks to more unified and simplified approaches using Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) and EVPN. The core of the discussion revolved around the advantages of employing EVPN as a single control plane across diverse network environments, enabling seamless integration and operation between service provider cores, access layers, and data centers.

Chaloupka detailed various case studies and deployment scenarios, illustrating how EVPN facilitates not only Layer 2 VPN (L2VPN) services but also Layer 3 VPN (L3VPN) services across all network domains. He emphasized the critical role of EVPN in bridging the gap between service provider networks and data centers, especially in the context of 5G and virtualization, where the convergence of these traditionally separate domains is increasingly important. The presentation covered the technical challenges of integrating EVPN in brownfield deployments, the interoperability between different network technologies, and the benefits of a unified BGP control plane for end-to-end service delivery.

A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to explaining how EVPN can simplify network operations, enhance scalability, and improve network resilience. Chaloupka also touched upon the future direction of integrating EVPN with various data plane technologies, including MPLS, SRv6, and VxLAN, to cater to the specific needs of different network deployments. The presentation underscored Cisco’s commitment to advancing EVPN technology and its applicability across a wide range of networking scenarios, from service provider networks to data center interconnects.