VPLS MAC Management

In VPLS-MCT topologies, MAC addresses can be learned either on a local PW or from the remote MCT node. The same MAC can be learned locally or remotely, but not from both MCT nodes.

For MCT remote MAC addresses, aging is disabled, and they can only be deleted when delete notifications are received from the remote MCT node that previously advertised it for learning.

The following terminologies are associated with MCT MAC entries.

Dynamic—MAC addresses learned locally on CEP ports
Cluster Remote (CR)—MAC addresses learned on remote CEP ports
Cluster Client Local (CCL)—MAC addresses learned locally on a client interface
Cluster Client Remote (CCR)—MAC addresses learned on a remote client interface

VPLS MAC addresses that are learned locally are classified as Dynamic, and the corresponding VPLS MAC addresses that are learned remotely are classified as Cluster Remote (CR).

Static MAC handling

Static MAC configuration over the local VPLS endpoints is supported. Static MAC pointing to the PW that is established with the remote VPLS PE is not supported.

MAC learning

MAC addresses learned from the PW on the active PE triggers CR MAC synchronization messages that are sent to the peer. The PW ESI is used in this MAC route. VPLS CR MAC addresses point to the active MCT node since no local forwarding path on the standby PE traffic is expected to be switched by the active MCT node.

MAC aging

When the VPLS MAC ages on the active node, the MAC address is locally flushed and the CR MAC withdrawal route is sent to remote MCT node to flush the MAC.