Components of VXLAN networkVXLAN provides a mechanism to extend an L2 network over an L3 network. In short, VXLAN is an L2overlay scheme over an L3 network and 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. TheOVSDB protocol is the protocol used for communication between VTEPs and thecontroller. In the current release, the qualified controller for the VXLAN Gatewayfunction 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.VTEP (VXLANTunnel End Point)VTEPs work as the open vSwitch running on the hypervisor on a virtualized serveror as the VXLAN Gateway or as the Service Node (SN) that is responsible forflooding. The VTEPs are responsible for encapsulation and decapsulation of VXLANheaders.VXLAN Gateways VXLAN Gateways act as the VTEPs that encapsulate and decapsulate VXLANheaders. The roles and responsibilities 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.976 Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)
