Virtual Extensible LAN

Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) is a network virtualization technology that attempts to address the scalability problems associated with large cloud computing deployments. It uses a VLAN-like encapsulation technique to encapsulate OSI layer 2 Ethernet frames within layer 4 UDP datagrams, using 4789 as the default IANA-assigned destination UDP port number.[1] VXLAN endpoints, which terminate VXLAN tunnels and may be either virtual or physical switch ports, are known as VXLAN tunnel endpoints (VTEPs).[2][3]

VXLAN is an evolution of efforts to standardize on an overlay encapsulation protocol. It increases scalability up to 16 million logical networks and allows for layer 2 adjacency across IP networks. Multicast or unicast with head-end replication (HER) is used to flood broadcast, unknown unicast, and multicast (BUM) traffic.[4]

The VXLAN specification was originally created by VMware, Arista Networks and Cisco.[5][6] Other backers of the VXLAN technology include Huawei,[7] Broadcom, Citrix, Pica8, Big Switch Networks, Cumulus Networks, Dell EMC, Ericsson, Mellanox,[8] FreeBSD,[9] OpenBSD,[10] Red Hat,[11] Joyent, and Juniper Networks.

VXLAN was officially documented by the IETF in RFC 7348. VXLAN uses the MAC-in-UDP packet encapsulation mode that restricts direct access to some of an object's components.[12]

Open vSwitch is an example of a software-based virtual network switch that supports VXLAN overlay networks.

See also

References
  1. Steve Herrod (August 30, 2011). "Towards Virtualized Networking for the Cloud". VMware. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  2. Andre Pech (2013-11-08). "Running OpenStack over a VXLAN Fabric" (PDF). openstack.org. pp. 8, 12. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  3. "Open vSwitch Manual: vtep – hardware_vtep database schema". openvswitch.org. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  4. "Arista Expands Leaf Switch Product Portfolio" (Press release). Arista Networks. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014. Arista’s updated VXLAN implementation eliminates the need for multicast in the underlay network by using Head End Replication for forwarding broadcast, multicast and unknown unicast traffic
  5. Timothy Prickett Morgan (30 August 2011). "VMware, Cisco stretch virtual LANs across the heavens". The Register. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  6. "VXLAN Bridges Virtual and Physical Networks to the Cloud" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-01.
  7. "Huawei CE12800 Series Data Center Switches - Huawei products". Huawei. December 2012.
  8. Timothy Pricket Morgan (April 23, 2013). "Mellanox adds VM-flitting to ConnectX-3 adapters - Going Pro with VXLAN". The Register.
  9. "FreeBSD 10.2-RELEASE Release Notes". The FreeBSD Project. The FreeBSD Project. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. Reyk Floeter (October 14, 2013). "OpenBSD vxlan implementation". Reyk Floeter.
  11. M. Mahalingam; et al. (February 22, 2013). "VXLAN: A Framework for Overlaying Virtualized Layer 2 Networks over Layer 3 Networks". Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  12. M. Mahalingam (February 22, 2013). "What Is VXLAN". Huawei. Retrieved 2013-02-25.


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