What Is VXLAN? Encapsulation and Operation
·1 min read·136 words
VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) is the standard overlay protocol that extends L2 over L3 through UDP/IP encapsulation. Its 24-bit VNI supports 16M segments (vs 4094 VLANs). It is the de facto standard for modern data centers using EVPN. This quick guide explains the essentials.
How It Works
- VTEP: switch/server that encapsulates and decapsulates VXLAN traffic
- VNI (VXLAN Network Identifier): 24 bits (16M vs 4094 VLANs)
- Standard UDP port 4789
- Overhead: 50 bytes (jumbo MTU 9000 recommended for the underlay)
Control Plane
- Flood and Learn: legacy approach that does not scale
- BGP EVPN: modern standard for distributing MAC information and routes
Use Cases
- Spine-leaf data centers
- Stretched L2 between data centers (DCI)
- Multi-tenant hosting providers
- Kubernetes networking overlay
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