Device Online Help

Configuring MPLS tunnel groups

The OM8000 switch groups multiple tunnels that are going to the same destination into a tunnel group. This feature improves resiliency. If a tunnel in the group fails, the OM8000 selects another pre-established tunnel in the group to transmit traffic.

Tunnel groups adhere to the following rules:

• Each VPN must be assigned to a tunnel group.
• Multiple VPNs can be assigned to the same tunnel group.

• All tunnels within the P2P-VPN tunnel group are considered equal.
• P2P-VPNs load-share among the tunnels within their tunnel group.
• The OM8000 switch selects a tunnel for a P2P-VPN that is based on the tunnel's available bandwidth and utilization.
• If a tunnel fails, the OM8000 switch selects another tunnel within the group that meets the original tunnel's bandwidth requirements.

VPLS-VPN tunnel group members (tunnels) can be primary tunnels or backup tunnels and are assigned a priority value in the range 0 to 127 (the default is 0). A higher priority value indicates the optimal tunnel preference.

VPLS-VPNs support three types of tunnel group configurations:

• 1:1 tunnel group
• 1+1 tunnel group
• n:1 tunnel group

Each VPLS-VPN is configured to map to a specific tunnel group. The VPLS-VPN can optionally be mapped to a specific tunnel in the specified tunnel group.

Note: For conceptual information about VPLS-VPN tunnel groups, including configuration examples, see Chapter 1 of the Configuring MPLS-based VPNs guide.

In all VPLS-VPN tunnel group configurations:

• You cannot configure a backup tunnel for a tunnel group until you configure at least one primary tunnel for the tunnel group.
• You can optionally assign a VPLS-VPN to a backup tunnel. However, if the backup tunnel fails, the VPLS-VPN is not reassigned to a primary tunnel.
• Whenever there is any change in the tunnel that is mapped to a VPLS-VPN, a notification is sent to the network management station (NMS). Also, whenever a backup tunnel is selected, a notification is sent to NMS.

To configure a tunnel group in an MPLS network, use the following steps:

1. From the Device Manager menu bar, choose IP Routing > MPLS > Config.

The MPLS dialog box opens with the Globals tab displayed.

2. Click the TunnelGroup tab.

The TunnelGroup tab opens and displays any previously configured tunnel groups.

3. Click Insert.

The MPLS, Insert TunnelGroup dialog box opens.

4. Add the tunnel Id number.

Enter an integer in the range 1 to 65535.

5. Enter a destination IP address for the destination LER.
6. Click Insert.

The Insert TunnelGroup dialog box closes and the new tunnel group and destination appears in the Tunnel Group tab.

7. Double-click in the Operation field, adjacent to the new tunnel group you just created.

Select addTunnel from the Operations field pull-down menu.

8. Double-click in the PrimaryTunnel field, adjacent to the new tunnel group; the field is highlighted.
9. Enter the tunnelId/priority value. Use a comma, with no trailing spaces, to separate multiple tunnels (for example, 2/127,45/100,53/50,.....).
10. Click Apply.
11. Click Refresh.

The new Primary tunnel appears in the Tunnel Group tab.

12. Repeat Steps 7 to 10 for adding a Backup tunnel.

• MPLS Tunnel Group tab fields