Summary
This chapter introduced how BGP can be adapted for a data center, with the benefits it brings, especially for larger-scale data centers. Problems such as BGP path hunting can easily be avoided by using ASN schemes for 3-stage and 5-stage Clos fabrics, or as an alternative, by using routing policies to ensure that sub-optimal paths, which can lead to path hunting, do not exist in the network.
Using eBGP as the underlay and the overlay provides a consolidated and simpler operational and maintenance experience, while continuing to provide vertical separation between the underlay and the overlay by leveraging Junos BGP groups. However, IP addressing for the underlay is operationally challenging and can get complex, very quickly, as the network grows.
With the BGP auto-discovery feature, which uses IPv6 Neighbor Discovery behind the scenes, underlay IP addressing complexity can be eliminated. This also provides an underlay framework that enables easier plug-and-play of fabric nodes, and the capability to automate the underlay without tracking any IP addressing schemes, since all fabric-facing interfaces are configured the same way.