Support for Superspine Role

Starting with Release 2011, Contrail Networking supports the superspine role. Devices with the role superspine can function as either a lean device that provides only IP forwarding or as a route reflector that can establish iBGP sessions with the peers. Superspines can be connected to spines in a CRB topology or to border-leaves in ERB topology. If the superspine is a lean device, then the spines should function as route reflector. If the superspine is functioning as a route reflector then the spines and leafs can peer with the superspine through iBGP sessions. Superspine role is supported in both greenfield and brownfield deployments.

To configure a device as superspine, you need to assign the Physical Role as superspine and overlay role as lean or Route-Reflector. If you assign the role lean, only IP forwarding will be supported and no iBGP session will be established with the peers. If you assign the Route-Reflector role, then the spine and leaf devices will establish iBGP sessions.