Set up multi-tenancy with BGP-EVPN: Worked Example — NVIDIA Spectrum Networking (NVIDIA-Certified Professional: AI Networking)

Setting Up Multi-Tenancy with BGP-EVPN in NVIDIA Spectrum Networking Multi-tenancy is a critical feature in modern AI networking environments...

Setting Up Multi-Tenancy with BGP-EVPN in NVIDIA Spectrum Networking

Multi-tenancy is a critical feature in modern AI networking environments, enabling multiple isolated virtual networks to coexist on shared physical infrastructure. NVIDIA Spectrum switches support multi-tenancy through Border Gateway Protocol Ethernet VPN (BGP-EVPN), which provides scalable Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services. This worked example guides you through configuring multi-tenancy using BGP-EVPN on NVIDIA Spectrum switches, illustrating key steps and reasoning.

Scenario Overview

Consider a data center hosting two AI tenants, TenantA and TenantB, each requiring isolated Layer 2 networks across multiple racks. The goal is to configure BGP-EVPN on NVIDIA Spectrum switches to enable these tenants to operate independent virtual networks with secure segmentation and efficient routing.

Step 1: Prepare the Physical Network

Ensure firmware and software: Verify that the NVIDIA Spectrum switches run the required NOS version supporting BGP-EVPN and related features.
Physical connectivity: Confirm that switches are interconnected with high-speed links and that IP reachability exists between them for BGP peering.

Step 2: Enable BGP and EVPN on the Switches

Begin by enabling the BGP routing process and configuring EVPN address family for multi-tenancy support.

Example Commands

Enable BGP with ASN 65000:
Activate EVPN address family:

Step 3: Configure Tenant VRFs and VLANs

Create Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances for each tenant to isolate routing tables, and assign VLANs that represent tenant segments.

Example Commands

Create VRFs:
Define VLANs and associate with VRFs:

Step 4: Configure BGP Neighbors and EVPN Peering

Establish BGP peering between switches for EVPN routes to propagate tenant information.

Example Commands

Configure BGP neighbors:
Activate EVPN for neighbor:

Step 5: Map EVPN Instances to VLANs

Define EVPN instances that bind tenant VLANs to BGP EVPN, enabling tenant traffic encapsulation and forwarding.

Example Commands

Configure EVPN instance for TenantA:
Configure EVPN instance for TenantB:

Step 6: Verify Configuration and Connectivity

Use show commands to verify BGP EVPN sessions, tenant VRF routing tables, and VLAN mappings.

Verification Commands

Show BGP EVPN neighbors:
Show VRF routing tables:
Show VLAN and EVPN bindings:

Step 7: Test Tenant Isolation

Perform ping and traceroute tests within each tenant VRF to confirm isolation and correct forwarding.

Testing Commands

Ping within TenantA VRF:
Ping within TenantB VRF:

Summary

This step-by-step example demonstrates how to configure multi-tenancy on NVIDIA Spectrum switches using BGP-EVPN. By creating VRFs, VLANs, and EVPN instances, and establishing BGP peering, network administrators can securely segment AI workloads for multiple tenants on shared infrastructure. This configuration supports scalable, high-performance AI networking environments essential for NVIDIA-Certified Professional: AI Networking certification candidates.

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