VXLAN VS VLAN | DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VLAN & VXLAN
This article is about the topic i.e. vxlan vs vlan. VXlan (virtual extensive local area network) is the modern form of vlan and a new concept in network IT industry. VXLAN protocol or concept is introduced by two famous networking companies Cisco and VMware in 2010-2011. Later Intel, Broadcom and the other stack holder of network industry also contribute to develop this protocol.
This
article is for giving you an overview of differences of these two Protocols VXLAN
VS VLAN. But before going into detail of difference let learn little more about
the VXLANs.
What is virtual extensive LAN or VXLAN?
Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) protocol are introduced to
support more VLANs on network devices in cloud computing.
Basically
VXLAN technology can provide the same services as VLAN does, but with better
extensibility & flexibility. VXLAN used to running a Layer 2 network and extending
it over a Layer-3 network. For this VXLAN uses MAC-in-UDP encapsulation.
How Does Virtual Extensible LAN Work?
Virtual Extensible LAN is an overlay protocol which allows you
to give Layer 2 connections over an intervening Layer-3 network by
encapsulating/tunneling Ethernet packet in a VXLAN frames that includes IPs. Network-Devices
which support VXLANs are known as virtual_tunnel endpoints VTEPs, normally
these are end hosts, switches or routers. Virtual tunnel endpoints encapsulate Virtual
Extensible LAN’s traffic and de-encapsulate that traffic when it leaves the
VXLAN-tunnel. Virtual tunnel endpoints add different fields to encapsulate an
Ethernet-frame. Following are the field added by VTEPs in Ethernet frame.
·
Outer IP source address
(IP of the tunnel-source Virtual tunnel endpoints (VTEP)
·
Outer IP destination
address (IP address of tunnel_endpoint Virtual tunnel endpoints VTEP)
·
MAC of the tunnel source
VTEP
·
Outer MAC destination
address
Now time to discuss some of the differences of vxlan vs vlan:
SR |
vxlan |
vlan |
1
|
VLAN are used to divide the network into several broadcast
domains. In each broadcast-domain, we can communicate with each other freely.
|
VXLAN provide layer 2 overlay networks on top of a layer-3 using
MAC-in-UDP encapsulation. In easy words, VXLAN offer same services as VLAN,
but with greater extensibility & flexibility
|
2
|
With VXLAN you can have 16 million VLAN IDs in an
administrative domain.
|
VLAN identifiers are only 12 bits long and can provide 4094
VLANs.
|
3
|
VLANs are used to solve problems like Layer 2 network
isolation, flood and as routing interface. VLAN supporting function is now
available in most systems and network equipment such as Ethernet switches,
routers and firewalls.
|
VXLAN provide layer 2 overlay networks on layer-3 using
MAC-in-UDP and provide the more VLANs.
|
4
|
VXLAN technology is being used in cloud computing environment
with large network data Centre consist of many devices.
|
VLAN protocol also support large networks but as compare to
VXLAN there are only 4094 VLANs available.
|
5
|
VM can migrate between servers that exist in separate Layer 2
domains by tunneling the traffic over Layer 3 networks
|
Not available in VLAN
|
6
|
VXLAN uses Layer-3 routing-protocol to use all the available
parts with technologies like Equal cost multipath Routing.
|
In case of VLAN there is STP which blocks redundant paths and
hence allows using only half of available_paths.
|
7
|
VXLAN are Flexible & suitable to scaling out a large cloud
network.
|
VLAN are Less flexible for multi-tenant network.
|
8
|
VXLAN provide more security as compare to VLAN. Due to the
structure of a VXLAN, tunneled traffic can utilize traditional security options,
which authenticate and encrypt the traffic.
|
I hope this article is informative and helpful for you, Let me
know in commends if I miss some differences, I will update it for other
community. You can share this on social media.
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