Components of VXLAN networkVXLAN provides a mechanism to extend an L2 network over an L3 network. In short, VXLAN is an L2 overlay scheme over an L3 networkand this overlay is termed as a VXLAN segment.Components of VXLAN networkThe VXLAN network consists of the following components:• Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) Controller• VTEP (VXLAN Tunnel End Point)• VXLAN Gateway• VXLAN Hypervisor• Service Node (SN)• Legacy TORNetworkVirtualizationPlatform (NVP)ControllerNVP Controller is the network controller for managing cloud components. The OVSDB protocol is the protocolused for communication between VTEPs and the controller. In the current release, the qualified controller for theVXLAN Gateway function is NSX from VMWare. The top-level functions of NVP are:• Provide a GUI for creating service gateways.• Manage the VTEPs.:• Binds Port and VLAN• Install VTEP tunnels• Distribute the VTEPs to MAC binding to all relevant VTEPs.• Provide an interface for cloud orchestration in cloud data center management.In VXLAN with NSX, Dell Networking OS supports physical interface or Port channel as access port. Dell supportsonly physical interface as network port and does not support Port channel/VLAN as network port.NOTE: Dell Networking OS supports only NSX as the controller for VXLAN and does not support Nuagecontrollers.VTEP (VXLANTunnel End Point)VTEPs work as the open vSwitch running on the hypervisor on a virtualized server or as the VXLAN Gateway or asthe Service Node (SN) that is responsible for flooding. The VTEPs are responsible for encapsulation anddecapsulation of VXLAN headers.VXLAN Gateways VXLAN Gateways act as the VTEPs that encapsulate and decapsulate VXLAN headers. The roles andresponsibilities of the Gateway are:• Connects to the NVP client based on user configuration.• Advertises south-facing VXLAN capable ports to the NVP client.• Creates logical networks based on messages from the NVP.• Creates tunnels to VTEPs based on messages from the NVP.• Binds the Port and VLAN to logical networks based on messages from the NVP.• Binds MACs to the VTEP and logical network based on messages from the NVP.• Advertises MACs learnt on south-facing VXLAN capable-ports to the NVP client.1054 Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)
