Juniper MX Series, 2nd Edition

Chapter 2. Bridging, VLAN Mapping, IRB, and Virtual Switches

This chapter covers the bridging, VLAN mapping, Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB), and virtual switch features, and introduces the VXLAN gateway capabilities of the Juniper MX. As you make your way through this chapter, feel free to pause and reflect on the differences between traditional bridging and advanced bridging, and where this could solve some interesting challenges in your network. Many readers may not be familiar with advanced bridging, and we encourage you to read this chapter several times. Throughout this chapter, you’ll find that features such as bridge domains, learning domains, and VLAN mapping are tightly integrated, and it may be a bit challenging to follow the first time through; however, as you reread the chapter a second time, many features and caveats will become clear.

The MX Series is also VXLAN-ready. The MX can be introduced within a data center or as a Data Center Interconnection (DCI) and play the role of a Layer 2 and Layer 3 Gateway. It could also fulfill the role of a VXLAN called the Open vSwitch Protocol and it can interact with network virtualization platforms such as NSX.

Isn’t the MX a Router?

At first it may seem odd—a router is able to switch—but on the other hand, it’s quite common for a switch to be able to route. So what’s the difference between a switch that’s able to route and a router that’s able to switch? Is this merely a philosophical discussion, or is there something ...