Trying to configure VPLS service on CML

[GeethaKrishna]

I am trying to simulate a network in Cisco modeling lab,I need a network from which I can discover all the following properties to test a feature as part of my development task

I am trying to use IOL ,IOL(4s) which are IOS XE version 17 cisco software routers 
but i am unable to find bridge group and bridge domain in these ,I checked if there are any IOSXR devices as part of the simulator to try configuring the same but could not find any in the free version ,I need suggestion in which devices I can use to be able to configure a network that enables me in discovering all the below mentioned details from device ,are there any free software I can use or should I be opting for any cisco licensing

•  Discover the VPLS services and configurations
• Get the Service Type:
• Multipoint-to-multipoint
• Point-to-multipoint
• get the topology details
• A-End device/interface
• Z-End device/Interface
• get the signaling informations
• BGP
• LDP
• get the MAC Table
• Table size
• Limit actions
• Limit notifications
• Aging time
• Discover the VSI (Virtual Switch Instance) information
• Profile
• Route distinguisher
• Bridge domain
• Bridge group
• Ve (Virtual Ethernet) range
• Ve ID
• VPN ID
• Discover Cross-connect information
• Group name
• Virtual circuit ID
• Point-to-point name
• Pseudowire name
• Discover the Neighbor details
• IP Address (IPV4)
• Pseudowire class
• Pseudowire ID
• VFI (virtual forwarding instance)
• Discover the Layer 2 VLL service and configurations
• Discover all above details but extend few configurations for Virtual Lease Line service, such as:
• Service Type: Point to Point
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) AAL5
• ATM Cell
• Ethernet
• Ethernet VLAN
• Frame
• Port Based
• Port and VLAN Tagged
•  

[M02@rt37]

Hello @GeethaKrishna 

see  CSR1Kv 

[GeethaKrishna]

Hi,

are u suggesting me to check the device CSR1Kv ,is it present on CML nodes .

Thank you,

-Geetha.

[bigevilbeard]

@GeethaKrishna keep in mind that CML free tier only supports the IOL, IOL-L2, and ASAv network images (there are other 'host' image containers supported, but they are emulating end-devices, not network devices). The free version also doesn't support the addition of new images (like if you happened upon the refplat for a previous Cisco Modeling Labs install), so you can't add the previous images that you were used to.

From my understanding, while IOL based on XE, it is designed for a very lightweight footprint, meaning complex features like VPLS are often control-plane only (the commands are accepted, but forwarding fails) or entirely non-functional.

Hope this helps.

[GeethaKrishna]

Hi,

Thank you for the clarification.

From what you’ve explained, I now understand that the CML Free Tier only provides IOL/IOL-L2 and ASAv images, and these IOL images are lightweight XE variants where advanced features like VPLS, bridge-domains, bridge-groups, full L2VPN forwarding, and MPLS-based services are either partially implemented (control-plane only) or not available at all.
This explains why I am unable to configure or discover the full set of VPLS/VLL parameters (bridge-group, bridge-domain, VSI details, pseudowire signaling, MAC learning, etc.) on the IOL routers.

My requirement is to test and validate discovery of the following end-to-end service attributes as part of my development work:

• VPLS services (VSI, RD, BD/BG, VE IDs, VPN IDs)

• VLL services (ATM, Ethernet, VLAN-based)

• Pseudowire signaling (LDP / BGP)

• PW class, PW ID, Xconnect information

• MAC tables, limits, aging timers

• Neighbor details

• A-End / Z-End mapping

To do this, it looks like I will need an image/platform that fully supports L2VPN + VPLS + XConnect in both control-plane and data-plane.

Could you please confirm whether the following options are suitable?

1. CSR1000v (CSR1Kv) – Does this support full VPLS / L2VPN functionality in CML (paid tier only)?

2. IOS XRv 9000 / XRv – Available only in CML Enterprise?

3. Are there any free alternatives or learning/lab images that support VPLS with bridge-domains and full MPLS L2VPN forwarding?

4. If not, should I consider a CML Personal license or another paid Cisco option?

My goal is simply to build a test network that allows me to discover all the above L2VPN/VPLS attributes correctly for my development task.

Thank you,
-Geetha.

[bigevilbeard]

@GeethaKrishna hello, you can see the node types listed here for CML-P https://developer.cisco.com/docs/modeling-labs/vm-images-for-cml-labs/#non-cisco-vm-images you can run, check the notes for support and features. 

• IOS XRv 9000
• IOS XRv
• CSR 1000v

The main difference between CML Personal (CML-P) and CML Enterprise (CML-Ent) comes down to three key areas: Scale, Support, and Licensing/Deployment. For your use if your limit of devices not exceed 20, you will be fine. 

Only from what i read, that CML-P provides the infrastructure to interconnect virtual devices and is agnostic to their control and data planes. Do all virtual devices available in CML support L2VPN? From what i read no; some devices have no L2VPN support at all, while some support L2VPN control planes, but do not have data planes to actually forward traffic. CSR1Kv has a fairly robust L2VPN control- and data-plane implementation and the ASR9Kv has an EoMPLS data plane, but https://community.cisco.com/t5/xr-os-and-platforms/not-able-to-configure-pseudowire-under-bridge-group/td-p/3052103 its noted no support for VPLS, this isnt a CML thing. Other node types (Cat8Kv, Cat9Kv) might have L2VPN implementations, someone noted in a thread NX-OS 9000 has a working L2VPN control plane too, however it is not officialy supported from what i read.

Ive moved the thread to CML community as i am sure someone from Cisco can weigh in here.