CloudEngine 8800, 7800, 6800, and 5800 Series

Switches
Configuration Guide - VXLAN 2 VXLAN Deployment Modes

2 VXLAN Deployment Modes

VXLANs can currently be deployed in single-node mode or controller mode.

● Single-node mode: In traditional network deployment, each device requires a
login to configure the device according to the network plan. Collaboration
with cloud platforms cannot be implemented in cloud computing data centers
for automatic network deployment.
● Controller mode: To help control and deploy a large Layer 2 network, a
controller can be used. A controller is a unified network control platform that
orchestrates and manages network resources and cooperates with the cloud
platform to implement automatic service and network provisioning.

Agile Controller-DCN Mode

● Introduction to Agile Controller-DCN Mode
In this mode, the Agile Controller-DCN uses Network Configuration Protocol
(NETCONF) to dynamically establish VXLAN tunnels between devices.
In Figure 2-1, the Agile Controller-DCN can directly manage the virtual
network and obtain virtual network information from Neutron. The Agile
Controller-DCN dynamically calculates network configurations based on
virtual network information and automatically maps the information to
physical networks.

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CloudEngine 8800, 7800, 6800, and 5800 Series
Switches
Configuration Guide - VXLAN 2 VXLAN Deployment Modes

Figure 2-1 Networking of theAgile Controller-DCN + VXLAN solution

WEB Portal/APP Portal

Cloud platform
Neutron

RESTful

NETCONF Agile Network

OpenFlow Controller-DCN controller

VXLAN VXLAN
L3 GW L3 GW

L3
Network
Infrastructure

vSwitch vSwitch vSwitch

Server
VM1 VM2 VM3 VM4 VM1 VM2
Server1 Server2 Server3

Table 2-1 describes the layers in the Agile Controller-DCN + VXLAN solution
and the functions of each layer.

Table 2-1 Layers in the Agile Controller-DCN + VXLAN solution

Layer Description

Cloud Schedules network, computing, and storage resources as

platform required and provides service management and operations and
maintenance (O&M) interfaces. Neutron is a component of the
cloud platform, used to provide network services.

Network Implements network modeling and instantiation.

controller The Agile Controller-DCN uses RESTful interfaces to receive
network modeling configurations from the cloud platform and
converts these configurations into related commands. It uses
the NETCONF protocol to establish channels with network
devices in the infrastructure layer to deliver commands to
them.

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CloudEngine 8800, 7800, 6800, and 5800 Series
Switches
Configuration Guide - VXLAN 2 VXLAN Deployment Modes

Layer Description

Infrastruc Implements unified planning of physical and virtual networks.

ture ● Uses hardware-based VXLAN gateways to improve service
performance.
● Is compatible with traditional VLANs.

● Channel Establishment and Maintenance Between the Agile Controller-DCN

and Device
The Agile Controller-DCN can detect the tenant status in real time and obtain
the virtual network information from the cloud platform. In Figure 2-2, the
Agile Controller-DCN dynamically calculates network configurations based on
virtual network information and automatically maps the information to
physical networks after tenants go online.

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CloudEngine 8800, 7800, 6800, and 5800 Series
Switches
Configuration Guide - VXLAN 2 VXLAN Deployment Modes

Figure 2-2 Channel establishment and maintenance between the Agile

Controller-DCN and device
VM1 MAC1 VM1 IP1 VNI 1 VLAN1 NVE IP1
VM2 MAC2 VM2 IP2 VNI 2 VLAN2 NVE IP1
VM3 MAC3 VM3 IP3 VNI 1 VLAN1 NVE IP2
VM4 MAC4 VM4 IP4 VNI 2 VLAN2 NVE IP2
Agile
Controller-
DCN IP Core
Network
NE
TC
ONF
Device2

Device1
VX
Device3
l
ne

LA
n

N
Tu

Tu
N

n
LA

ne
VX

NVE NVE
VSwitch VSwitch
V V V V
M1 M2 M3 M4
Server1 Server2
10.1.1.1/24 10.10.1.1/24

NVE

In Figure 2-2, network administrators must have completed the NETCONF

and mandatory VXLAN configuration (for example, creating NVE interfaces
and configuring VTEP IP addresses) on the device using CLI or Zero Touch
Provisioning (ZTP). After the configurations are complete, the Agile
Controller-DCN can manage the device using NETCONF.

VMware NSX Controller Mode

In this mode, the VMware NSX controller dynamically establishes VXLAN tunnels.
The VMware NSX controller uses the OVSDB protocol to control VXLAN tunnel
establishment between CE switches. For details, see OVSDB Configuration.

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