VXLAN-EVPN Lab with ContainerLab

Sources

• ContainerLab
• Virtual Data Center Network

Overview

This project provides a hands-on lab environment for understanding and experimenting with VXLAN-EVPN (Ethernet VPN) technology. Using ContainerLab, the lab sets up a VXLAN topology featuring 1 spine and 2 leaves nodes. The lab can be deployed directly on a PC with ContainerLab installed or through a DevContainer environment.

Project Structure

The project directory is structured as follows:

• .devcontainer/devcontainer.json: Configuration for the DevContainer environment.
• hosts: Directory containing host configuration files for the lab.
• network_images/ceos-lab-4.30.3M.tar.xz: Container image used for the lab nodes.
• lab_vxlan.yml: YAML file describing the VXLAN lab topology.

Prerequisites

• Docker and Docker Compose (for DevContainer setup).
• ContainerLab installed either on the host or within the DevContainer.
• Basic understanding of networking and VXLAN-EVPN concepts.

Setup and Deployment

1. DevContainer Setup (Optional):
   If using DevContainer, ensure Docker and Docker Compose are installed on your machine.
   Open the project in a compatible IDE (like Visual Studio Code) and start the DevContainer environment.

2. ContainerLab Setup:

   • Direct Installation: Install ContainerLab on your host machine.
   • Via Terraform, documentation avalaible here

3. Start the Lab:

   • Navigate to the project directory.
   • Run containerlab deploy -t lab_vxlan.yml to deploy the lab topology.

Usage

• Once the lab is deployed, you can access the individual nodes (spines and leaves) via CLI or SSH to configure and test VXLAN-EVPN functionalities.
• Use the hosts directory to modify or apply specific configurations.

Project evolution

To Do

• Enable Features
• Set MTU
• Map VLAN to VNI
• Routed Link
• Host Ports
• Loopback interfaces