About This Network Configuration Example

This network configuration example shows how to implement Layer 2 circuits in a variety of ways.

After the introduction and early adoption of Layer 3 virtual private networks (VPNs) based on RFC 4364 (also known as RFC 2547bis), many customers asked their service providers to offer VPNs that would preserve data at Layer 2. One of the Layer 2 VPN options that has emerged is known as a Layer 2 circuit. It is based on a series of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) drafts and RFCs authored by Luca Martini. These so-called “Martini-drafts” include Internet draft draft-martini-l2circuit-encap-mpls-11.txt, Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over MPLS Networks (expires August 2006) and Internet draft draft-martini-l2circuit-trans-mpls-19.txt, Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over MPLS (expires September 2006), and establish the basis for Juniper Networks implementation of Layer 2 circuits.

For additional information about Layer 2 circuits, see:

• RFC 3036, LDP Specification

• RFC 4447, Pseudowire Setup and Maintenance Using the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) (except section 5.3)

• RFC 4448, Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Ethernet over MPLS Networks

• Internet draft draft-martini-atm-encap-mpls-01.txt, Encapsulation Methods for Transport of ATM Cells/Frame Over IP and MPLS Networks (expires December 2002)

• Internet draft draft-martini-l2circuit-encap-mpls-11.txt, Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Layer 2 Frames over MPLS Networks (expires August 2006)

• Internet draft draft-martini-l2circuit-trans-mpls-19.txt, Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over MPLS (expires September 2006)

• Internet draft draft-kompella-ppvpn-l2vpn-03.txt, Layer 2 VPNs Over Tunnels (expires October 2003)