Cisco VPLS Configuration

How to Configure VPLS on Cisco Routers?

In this VPLS Example, we will focus on the VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service) Configuration on Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches. We will use the below Cisco VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service) topology for our VPLS Configuration Example.

In this Cisco VPLS Example topology, we will use Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches. Here, before the configuration, lets check two term used in commands.

VFI : Virtual Forwarding Instance
VSI : Virtual Switch Instance

Here, For our VPLS Configuration, we will follow the below configuration steps:

1) Configuration of the VSIs(Virtual Switch Instance) and VCs (Virtual Circuits).
2) Configuration of the CE (Customer Equipment) Device Interface.
3) Association of the VC with the VFI (Virtual Forwarding Instance).

We will do these configuration steps one by one for each PE device.

There is an important note before VPLS Configuration. As you know split-horizon rule provides broadcast packet loops and isolates the L2 traffic. With the use of “no-split-horizon” command during the VC configuration, we can disble the default L2 split-horizon rule and configure multiple VCs per spoke into the same VFI.

As an example:

Router1(config-vfi)# neighbor 20.20.20.20 encapsulation mpls split-horizon

Let’s see the VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service) Configuration on each device.

Cisco VPLS Configuration Steps

Router 1

Router1(config)# l2 vfi PE1_COMPANY_A manual

Router1(config-if)# xconnect vfi PE1_COMPANY_A

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