MPLS Layer 3 VPNs which is IP address scheme based aSlso called BGP (Border Gateway Protocol). L3VPN provides a cost-effective way to easily manage the VPN Services all its communication needs with minimum network usage. WebNMS MPLS solution provides mechanism for discovery, monitoring, and configuration of the L3VPN implementation.

The software automatically discovers layer 3 and PseudoWire related entities. The VPN entities include Virtual Route Forwarder(VRF), Route Target(RT), Route Distinguisher(RD), and VRF interfaces. Service layer entities such as VPN, pseudowire, QoS policy, and their logical entities are also discovered automatically. Based on minor customizations, any additional property of the device or network is included in the discovery process. The solution ensures that critical data in the form of voice, data, and video is seamlessly transferred across an MPLS VPN. The downtime of a VPN service is reduced considerably as users are notified in the case of physical or logical component failure. The hop connectivity discovered helps to generate the layer 2 connectivity present between routers in the network. Whenever, there is configuration change in MPLS network, the discovery process is triggered to ensure that the data displayed is always in sync with that of the network.

The discovered devices can be arranged in any desired pattern for easy viewing in the client's map view. The VPN topology can be represented in the Hub-and-Spoke, Full-Mesh etc. The map view can be customized further to display focussed view of the service level, network layer, and physical devices such as PEs (Provider Edge Routers) or LSRs.

WebNMS MPLS VPN Management Highlights:

• Automatic discovery of L3VPN services and PseudoWire services
• Automatic discovery of L3VPN underlying entities such as Virtual Route Forwarder(VRF), Route Target(RT), Route Distinguisher(RD), and VRF interfaces
• Automatic discovery of Access Circuit for Ethernet, FrameRelay, and ATM
• Support for BGP protocol to discover and monitor the Customer End Node connected to PE
• Support for multi-vendor network
• Topology view of the various VPNs configured in Mesh and Hub-and-Spoke VPN
• Pro-active diagnosis of the network to know the effect of device and link failure and its effect on devices and services
• Provisioning of VPN services using GUI templates
• End to End service assurance

Discovery of L3VPN Services:

The discovery process discovers the entities in the L3VPN and associates the discovered components. The discovery flow in the MPLS software is provided below:

• Discovers the devices in the MPLS network.
• Discovers the physical and logical components in the VPN domain and Transport domain.
• L3VPN associated with each Provider Edge is discovered.
• Customer End Nodes connectivity with PE is determined using BGP.
• Discovers the Route Distinguisher(RD)
• Creates an instance of VPN
• Associates the VRF with the  VPN.
• The route Target that are exported and imported by each VRF is discovered.
• Interfaces are also associated with each VRF.
• Discovery of attachment circuit associated with each VRF interface is triggered.
  

Below figure shows the discovered logical and Physical components in inventory view.

Topology View

The WebNMS MPLS Management and Monitoring Software provides enhanced map view with support for Mesh and Hub-and-Spoke VPN. The VPN map will be created automatically during the discovery of  L3VPN components.

 

Fault Management

The WebNMS MPLS monitoring software continuously monitors the logical and physical components in the domain. In case of failures, traps related to VRF are propagated effectively, and the corresponding affected services are highlighted in the client UI for easy monitoring. For ensuring the CE-PE connectivity, BGP sessions are monitored continuously. 

Configuration

L3VPN setup can be created using the GUI based configuration templates. These templates can also be used for configuring multiple device deployment. The software effectively tracks the configuration changes with the auditing feature. Auditing is made simple with options for audit logging for all configuration changes or provisioning actions performed on the MPLS services.

PseudoWire Service Management:

The usage of PseudoWire methodology of tranportation of data in a packet-switched networks is on the increase. Particularly, the technology has become more popular over MPLS network.  The MPLS software provides features to address the needs for the PseudoWire services. <> The MPLS Software discovers the PseudoWire services that are configured in the MPLS Network. Association between Label Switched Path that comprises the PseudoWire service is also provided. Traps pertaining to tunnel are listened and are propagated to the Service. Performance of the PseudoWire service is monitored by a number of bytes and packets that are received and forwarded by the Service.