With IT shifting towards a cloud consumption model, application architecture is fundamentally changing, driving the evolution of Data Center infrastructure to accommodate increasing data demands, server virtualization or the rise of cloud computing.
In the current age of speed and digital transformation, many Data Center environments still rely on outdated designs and technologies, limiting their ability to keep pace with modern demands.
Legacy networks with old designs and large Layer 2 domains present challenges in ensuring stability, smooth operations, and effective troubleshooting. Transforming these networks into a high-performing, fully redundant, and cost-efficient environment is critical for maintaining business continuity.
The Evolution of Network Demand
Four decades ago, LAN design was predominantly based on flat, bridged topologies with limited segmentation, minimal security features, and basic loop prevention mechanisms. The need for higher bandwidth and redundancy resulted in more complex designs where Layer 2 loops or broadcast storms could degrade performance or even take down the entire network, causing major business impact.
As technology advanced, hardware vendors attempted to merge the simplicity of Layer 2 technologies with the intelligence of Layer 3 protocols, leading to the development of proprietary solutions that tended to be non-scalable for customers and led to vendor lock-in. As the demand for more scalable and interoperable solutions has grown, the industry has shifted towards open standards and software-defined networking (SDN).
In today’s environment, network requirements have evolved dramatically. Modern networks demand exceptional performance, flexibility, and automation capabilities. This journey from the early days of basic connectivity to today's sophisticated infrastructures demonstrates how networks have become a critical component of the digital ecosystem.
In the last decade, high demand for network virtualization, automation, and orchestration has led to the adoption of more advanced technologies like EVPN-VXLAN.
The New Standard in Data Center Design
Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN – defined in RFC7348, 2014) is a standalone data plane encapsulation technology developed to overcome the limitations of traditional Layer 2 networks, such as lack of mobility, scalability, and multi-tenancy.
VXLAN allows tunneling of the Ethernet Layer 2 frames over an underlay IP network, providing greater scalability and flexibility. Although VXLAN offers bridging and routing capabilities, it inherently relies on a flood-and-learn multicast mechanism, which presents limitations around network efficiency and control. In order to overcome these limitations, a BGP MPLS (Border Gateway Protocol Multiprotocol Label Switching)-based EVPN solution was developed.
Ethernet VPN (EVPN) is a BGP extension that offers a robust control plane for managing and controlling the overlay network, including addressing, routing, security, and the establishment of communication paths. It improves network performance by optimizing traffic flows and enabling active-active multihoming for better load balancing.
Integrating VXLAN with the control plane capabilities of EVPN results in cutting-edge technology that delivers robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionalities, meeting the evolving demands of contemporary Data Center networks.
Organizations can obtain a modern fabric by deploying an EVPN-VXLAN framework on top of a horizontally oriented Spine-Leaf architecture, enabling enhanced scalability, flexibility, and automation capabilities for the network. Layer 2 services can be bridged between geographically dispersed Data Centers in a very robust and cost-effective way. With EVPN-VXLAN, live migrations of compute workloads between sites are now possible, allowing for seamless resource allocation, improved disaster recovery solutions, and a more agile IT infrastructure.
Moreover, the EVPN-VXLAN architecture facilitates a programmable environment where network resources can be dynamically allocated and managed, enabling Data Centers to efficiently meet increasing data demands.
Modernizing Your Enterprise Network Environment
While EVPN-VXLAN is widely recognized for its application in Data Centers, it also offers significant advantages for enterprise environments, allowing organizations to improve network design, enhance performance, and reduce costs.
Enterprises can seamlessly scale their core, distribution, and access layer devices as their business expands by using an EVPN-VXLAN overlay combined with a Layer 3 IP-based underlay. Replacing spanning-tree protocol (STP) with a BGP-based control plane offers greater stability and meets the demands of modern business environments by providing multi-tenancy capabilities, centralized management, automation, and enhanced security.
One of the key benefits of using EVPN-VXLAN is the ability to bring Layer 3 functionality down to the access layer. This approach, combined with EVPN anycast gateway capabilities, minimizes broadcast domains and enables efficient handling of network traffic. Additionally, the ability to route at the access, distribution, or core level, opens up several design possibilities that companies can explore based on customer needs.
In many cases, live networks contain hardware capable of supporting modern protocols but deployed in outdated configurations. To optimize costs, network engineering teams can redesign and transform these networks to meet new standards with minimal investment by repurposing existing hardware.
For enterprises whose existing hardware cannot support the latest requirements, a parallel network can be built and interconnected with the legacy network, allowing for a phased migration of end nodes to the new infrastructure. This approach minimizes disruption and facilitates a smooth transition to a modernized network environment.
Another important consideration for enterprises is the high cost associated with renting point-to-point or VPLS circuits from Telco Service Providers to achieve Layer 2 connectivity across different locations. This approach often results in significant business costs due to high monthly service fees, long-term contracts, and paying for bandwidth upgrades and maintenance. These costly options can now be replaced with EVPN-VXLAN-based solutions, ensuring the network infrastructure is prepared for future growth and technological advancements.
Choosing a Trusted Tech Partner
With extensive experience in Service Provider, Enterprise, and Data Center environments, intive supports Telco customers by providing network design, implementation, support, and automation expertise.
Our network engineering team has successfully built cutting-edge Data Centers from the ground up, modernized Legacy networks with minimal investment, and migrated hundreds of networks to new infrastructures. With a strong focus on MPLS, BGP, EVPN, and VXLAN technologies, we consistently deliver advanced solutions that are both innovative and effective for our clients. Furthermore, our expertise in enterprise routing, switching, and security technologies, allows us to provide a full spectrum of network services designed to enhance performance across your organization.
At intive, we manage the entire project lifecycle, from the pre-study phase through designing high-level (HLD) and low-level designs (LLD), deploying, migrating, and maintaining solutions that align with your business objectives.
We also place a high value on collaboration and teamwork. Our network engineers work closely with our software engineers to automate the configuration, management, and monitoring of your network services. This synergy enables us to deliver rapid deployment and zero-touch provisioning, along with end-to-end automation.
Take the next step in network evolution with intive. If you’re ready to modernize your network infrastructure, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive edge with innovative solutions, get in touch with one of our experts today.
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