Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) v1.2VirtualizationMedium
A company is deploying a new data center and needs to implement a network virtualization solution that allows for overlapping IP addresses between different customer segments, while maintaining full isolation at Layer 3. Which technology best facilitates this requirement?
- AVLANs
- BVRF-Lite
- CSpanning Tree Protocol (STP)
- DAccess Control Lists (ACLs)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. VRF-Lite
VRF-Lite (Virtual Routing and Forwarding Lite) allows multiple independent routing tables to coexist within the same router. This enables the use of overlapping IP address spaces for different customer segments, as each VRF instance maintains its own forwarding information base (FIB) and routing table, ensuring full Layer 3 isolation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. VLANs provide Layer 2 segmentation, but do not allow for overlapping IP addresses at Layer 3.
- C. STP prevents loops in Layer 2 networks and is unrelated to Layer 3 isolation or overlapping IP addresses.
- D. ACLs filter traffic based on rules but do not provide network segmentation or allow for overlapping IP addresses.
VRF-Lite
A feature that allows a single router to host multiple independent routing and forwarding tables, providing logical separation of network traffic.
- Enables overlapping IP address spaces for different tenants/segments.
- Provides Layer 3 isolation without requiring MPLS.
- Each VRF instance has its own routing table, FIB, and interfaces.
Memory trick: VRF: Virtual Routes for Isolation.