Route-Target Export/Import Relationships

The VPN View also shows route target export/import relationships that exist between VPNs. A visual picture helps the network planner or engineer to clearly and quickly identify relationships between VPNs (e.g. hub-and-spoke or extranet VPN relationships). When there are export/import relationships with other VPNs, then the To Import/Export Relation View selection in the upper right-hand corner of the VPN View becomes visible. The following figure shows that VPN HUB_AO has export/import relationships with other VPNs, since the To Import/Export Relation View selection is visible.

Figure 1: Click on To Import/Export Relation View to see import/export relationships with other VPNs Network management interface for configuring IP VPNs showing Layer 3 VPN hierarchy and topology of VPN HUB_AO with AS 65101.

Network management interface for configuring IP VPNs showing Layer 3 VPN hierarchy and topology of VPN HUB_AO with AS 65101.

Click on To Import/Export Relation View to get to the Import/Export Relation View. The blue circle icon with a triangle inside is a grouping icon represents the current VPN (HUB_A0), while the yellow dot icons represent other VPNs (in this example, the SPOKEPPL_* VPNs) that have export/import relationships with the current VPN.

To see how other VPNs (the yellow dots) are related to the current VPN, you can click on a yellow dot to see the route targets that are being exported and imported. For instance the following figure shows that VPN SPOKEPPL_7 is exporting 65101:65001 and importing 65101:65008, while HUB_A0 is exporting 65101:65008 and importing 65101:65001. The Import/Export Relation View allows you to clearly see relationships between VPNs. Note that you can go back to the regular VPN View by clicking on To VPN View.

Figure 2: Click on another VPN (a yellow dot) to see its relationship to the current VPN Network management interface showing hierarchical VPNs and selected Layer 3 VPN HUB_AO with node SPOKEPPL_7 topology and details.

Network management interface showing hierarchical VPNs and selected Layer 3 VPN HUB_AO with node SPOKEPPL_7 topology and details.

The right-click menu of the Import/Export Relation View gives you the option to expand the currently collapsed VPN (HUB_AO) which is represented by the blue circle icon with a triangle in it. Selecting Expand All would reveal all the nodes with in the VPN.

Figure 3: Right-click menu in the Import/Export Relation View IP VPN topology showing central blue hub with yellow spoke nodes, routing info like 65101:65001, and action options for network management.

IP VPN topology showing central blue hub with yellow spoke nodes, routing info like 65101:65001, and action options for network management.

The following figure shows you the Import/Export Relation View with the nodes in VPN HUB_AO expanded.

Figure 4: Import/Export Relation View with nodes of VPN HUB_AO expanded Layer 3 VPN topology for HUB_AO with yellow circles as endpoints and blue squares as PE routers in a hub-and-spoke model.

Layer 3 VPN topology for HUB_AO with yellow circles as endpoints and blue squares as PE routers in a hub-and-spoke model.

You can also move the icons around. Control-click to select multiple icons.

Instead of the visual display showing the import/export relationships that is in the Import/Export Relation View, you can also access the same information in table form. As shown in the following figure, you would choose Show Relations in Table Form from the right-click menu.

Figure 5: Show Relations in Table Form from the r-click menu for VPN MGMT_VPN Layer 3 VPN topology with nodes VPN-SOMERSET, VPN-PISCATAWAY, VPN-EIDSON, showing VPN connections, node details, configurations, path traces, and route targets.

Layer 3 VPN topology with nodes VPN-SOMERSET, VPN-PISCATAWAY, VPN-EIDSON, showing VPN connections, node details, configurations, path traces, and route targets.

Once Show Relations in Table Form is chosen, the Export/Import table for the VPN is shown.

Figure 6: Export /Import table for VPN MGMT_VPN Import/Export settings for MGMT_VPN with three relations, showing provider edge, route identifiers, direction, and VPN names.

Import/Export settings for MGMT_VPN with three relations, showing provider edge, route identifiers, direction, and VPN names.

In instances when there are a large number of export/import relations and you click on To Import/Export Relation View, you will be prompted with the “This map could take a long time to calculate and display.” message. If you would be willing to wait and still want to see the export/import relations in graphical form, then click on “Click here if you want to proceed.” Instead, you may choose to view the import/export relations in table form, as described in the previous step.

Figure 7: A particular VPN could have a large number of export/import relations with other VPNs Layer 3 VPN management tool with tabs for VPN Topology and Detailed view, message about map calculation time, 97 PEs, and link to VPN View.

Layer 3 VPN management tool with tabs for VPN Topology and Detailed view, message about map calculation time, 97 PEs, and link to VPN View.

The Report Manager includes a VPN Export-Import report under Network Reports > VPN, as shown in the following figure, that shows all of the route target export/import relationships that exist between VPNs in the network.

Figure 8: VPN Export-Import report Report Manager interface showing a hierarchical menu of network report categories and a data table of VPN configurations with source and destination endpoints.