Network Virtualization using Extreme Fabric Connect

Table Of Contents
Network Virtualization Using Extreme Fabric Connect
© 2019 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 42
then ensure that equal cost shortest path load balancing can be leveraged across the SPB Fabric to reach
the SMLT cluster BEB nodes.
Tip
The SMLT-Virtual-BMAC can be either auto generated or manually provisioned. If auto
provisioned, the system will simply use the SMLT’s Primary nodal BMAC with the least
significant byte set to 0x80.
Tip
Extreme recommends that the SMLT-Virtual-BMAC configuration should follow the same
criteria used for nodal BMAC / IS-IS System ID. If the latter is manually provisioned, then
so should the SMLT-Virtual-BMAC. If instead auto configuration is used, then both should
be allocated in that manner.
IS-IS Area
SPB operates in unison with IS-IS, which acts as a link state routing protocol for the Ethernet Fabric. IS-IS
needs to operate within a given IS-IS area and as such every SPB BEB or BCB node will need to be
configured with the same IS-IS area.
Note
The SPB standard only defines operation over a single IS-IS area.
Tip
Extreme Networks will support Multi-Area Fabric Connect in future. When Multi-Area
becomes available the IS-IS Area configuration will be leveraged by new functionality on
Multi-Area BEB nodes to interconnect services across different areas.
Note
The IS-IS area format is <AFI>.<AreaID>, where AFI is two hex digits and Area ID is four
hex digits. Extreme recommends to select SPB IS-IS area IDs 49.xxxx
5
where the AFI = 49
indicates locally administered NSAP addresses.
Tip
Extreme Networks VSP platforms can automatically assign the IS-IS area if deployed in
Zero Touch Fabric (ZTF) mode and are connected to an already existing SPB fabric.
IS-IS System ID
Like every IS-IS router, a BEB or BCB node must be allocated a unique IS-IS System ID. In the Extreme
Networks SPB implementation, the IS-IS System ID (six octets) also becomes the nodal BMAC of the SPB
node. Refer back to Backbone MAC Address on page 41.
5
For guidelines on allocating SPB unique identifiers refer to reference documentation
[8].