Ethernet transport accross MPLS backbone

[MachadoGB]

I am getting lots of diverse information on how to set/configure the PE router for customer access via Ethernet connection to transport the frames across the MPLS backbone.

I found that I can have only a PtP connection - to extend the customer LAN. Also I found information indicating that I can allow multiple customer connections (geographically separated) for the same LAN.

The configuration is abit confuse mixing with VLAN transport (Etehrnet tagged frames) and IP transport with Ethernet frame transport.

Most of the information is pointing to pseudowires classes. The basic need is to transport Ethernet frames across the backbone.

Is there a document that can summarize with configuration examples the options available within Cisco.com? Or we really need to combine configurations?

Thank you.

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello MachadoGB,

if you just need a point to point L2 transport service EoMPLS is the right tool : you can find an example in the following link:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/mpls/configuration/guide/mp_any_transport_ps6441_TSD_Products_Configuration_Guide_Chapter.html#wp1226304

if you need to connect multiple remote sites to a central sites you have two options:

you can use Vlan-based EoMPLS and you can have a point-to-point pseudowire for each central site- remote site x direction

or you can get a point-to-multipoint service that is named VPLS in this case all devices can see each other in the same emulated vlan

recent features in VPLS allows dynamic discovery of member sites via BGP see

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2sr/12_2srb/feature/guide/fs_vpls.html

Be aware that hardware requirements for VPLS are different and not all platforms can perform VPLS.

Hope to help

Giuseppe