Testing MPLS

cisco_raj · ‎04-21-2005

Hi friends...

I'm supposed to carry out interoperability test of one of our edge devices (PE router) with other vendors' PE routers. Would be highly obliged if I get some more inputs from ur side. Right now, I have thought of three steps to proceed with:

1. Testing LDP relationship with all PE routers (in case of Layer 2 services offerings)

2. Testing MP-BGP VPNv4 route propogation between PEs.

3. Proper VRF isolation for the device under test for multi VRF configuration.

4. Route Reflector Scalability test between PEs if RR is used.

Am I right on above test specifications?Kindly please correct me if I'm wrong anywhere since I'm still new to MPLS. Also please let me have some more inputs from you people. Will be highly thankful if guys help me out here.

THNX

RAJ

didyap · ‎04-27-2005

Using Route Reflectors will reduce the number of IBGP sessions, which is proportional to the number of routers.RR will offload memory on RR client since RR only advertise the best path to its clients. RR reduces the convergence time and processor utilization,and increases the bandwidth availability per link.

cisco_raj · ‎04-27-2005

Hi Didya...

Thanks for the info.Talking abt Route reflectors, I do have some queries.When u say that route reflectors are used to minimize the number of iBGP sessions, does it mean that it is going to minimize the number of TCP sessions as well???Let me be more specific in details.As we know, TCP connection is established between all the BGP peers, and it can be logical or physical. Now once the session is established, u have BGP table built up. Now whenever a packet is destined for a particular prefix it will look upon the BGP table which will provide the information like NEXT HOP,MED,LOCAL PREFERENCE etc. alongwith the IP routing table. My question is, is it the TCP information or the layer 3 information which is going to help the packet to reach that particular destination prefix?

THNX

RAJ

nisha_kulkarni · ‎04-27-2005

Hi Raj,

If u go thru the IP packet structure, u'll find a field called as Protocol that specifies which Transport protocol to be be used. Please find the attachment herein.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

NISHA