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Enabling DVR without leaf node, and why it reserves VLANs 3500 to 3998

  • 30 September 2020
  • 7 replies
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M
Userlevel 6
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HI

In the process of building a small network across three DC locations. Each DC is using 2x VSP4900’s in each location as a RSMLT cluster. Intend on using DVR  across each of the sites, predominantly based on the details provided in the Automated Campus Extreme Evaluated Design.

Questions are:

  1. We are only using DVR controllers, no leaf nodes. is DVR still Ok to use in this scenario
  2. When I enable the vrf-scaling boot flag, which I’m prompted to do when entering the command ‘dvr controller 100’ you get the following message:
Warning: Vlan 3500 to 3998 will be reserved for internal use.

Warning: Vrf-scaling boot flag is enabled on DVR Node, make sure it is enabled
         on all DVR Nodes in domain.

Warning: Please save the configuration and reboot the switch
         for this configuration to take effect.

Do you know if that’s normal? This is potentially a problem pinching those VLAN ID’s that could already be in use i.e. doing a migration or certainly good to know prior to building the network.

Do you know why it needs them and why it reserves so many?

Many thanks,

 

Martin

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Best answer by Miguel-Angel RODRIGUEZ-GARCIA 30 September 2020, 15:27

Martin,

Per documentation:”On switches that support the vrf-scaling and spbm-config-mode boot configuration flags, if you enable these flags, the system also reserves VLAN IDs 3500 to 3998”

 

So, yes it is normal.

the why is because the system needs to reserve resources and the memory an CPU is limited.

So cannibalising the other resources is a way to achieve a higher number of VRFs (requiring a higher number of resources).

If the VLANs already exists elsewhere, you can map them in an I-SID and change the VLAN id in your core :wink:

Mig

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M
Userlevel 6
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Martin,

Per documentation:”On switches that support the vrf-scaling and spbm-config-mode boot configuration flags, if you enable these flags, the system also reserves VLAN IDs 3500 to 3998”

 

So, yes it is normal.

the why is because the system needs to reserve resources and the memory an CPU is limited.

So cannibalising the other resources is a way to achieve a higher number of VRFs (requiring a higher number of resources).

If the VLANs already exists elsewhere, you can map them in an I-SID and change the VLAN id in your core :wink:

Mig

Mig
Sam Pirok
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Userlevel 5

Mig is correct, and I just wanted to add that you can use DVR without leaf nodes, since end devices can be connected directly to the controllers. 

M
Userlevel 6
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Hi Mig,

Thank you for getting back so quickly.

Just to help me understand the last comment, say you have a virtual server on the network that has VLANs 3501 & 3502 tagged to it already.

I’m replacing the switches, using DVR and now those VLAN’s become part of the reserved pot.

Due to the VLAN ID itself being configured with the virtual environment I would need to preserve those VLAN tag ID’s.

So based on your comment I’m just trying to understand (apologies for my shortcomings in knowledge), but how does you concept get around that issue?

Also, I assume that you can configure all the nodes in each of the DC with the command ‘dvr controller 100’, then just do the following on each node for each VLAN interface you want to participate and it will work?

interface Vlan 401
dvr gw-ipv4 172.31.40.254
dvr enable
exit

Many thanks,

Martin

M
Userlevel 6
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Hi Sam,

Sorry, just see your answer pop in. That’s great, DVR question answered. 

Many thanks

M
Userlevel 6
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Martin,

 

We need a small topology diagram to talk about the same things.

 

Let’s say that you have a ToR switch with VLAN 3501, you map it in i-sid 993501

On your cores (DVR) you have the VLAN 501 and map it in i-sid 993501

This done, you have the VLAN 501 in the core corresponding to the VLAN 993501 in your ToR.

 

To check what can be done with your specific infrastructure.

Mig

Mig
R
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Hi Martin

this scaling flag is only needed if you use more than 24 VRFs/L3 VSNs. This applies to DVR as well. You don’t need to set that flag if you have less VRFs.  

The system reserves those VLANs to enable the VRF/L3 VSN scaling function. You would need to make sure they are not used for other applications before you set the flag.

If you need those VLAN numbers on certain ports, you can use the ELAN-Switched-UNI function to configure those VLAN-IDs on ports, but you can’t use them anymore as platform VLANs with CVLAN-UNIs.

 

Makes sense?

 

Roger

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-lapuh-41080a/
M
Userlevel 6
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Thanks guys, this has help loads, in either situation.

I’m actually only using 3 VRF’s, so in this case I can turn off that flag, keep using those VLANs and continue to use DVR.

That's great, least I now feel well prepared for its use in the future.

Cheers.

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