VRF Lite (Virtual Routing & Forwarding)

- technology similar to VLANs but working at Layer 3.

- implemented in IP network router that allows two or more VPNs, where same IP Subnet can be overlapped among VPNs without conflicting each other

Key Concept - Each VRF instance is a separate route

- another term for VRF is VPN Routing and Forwarding, key element in Cisco MPLS VPN technology.

Lab Topology

Command Guide

1) To configure vrf --> ip vrf NAME (name is case sensitive)

2) Associate the interface with vrf --> ip vrf forwarding NAME

3) To check vrf routing table --> sh ip route vrf NAME

4) To verify the connectivity --> ping vrf NAME ip address

OSI 7 Layers Visualized

Symbols Generated in Ping Output

!:       Each exclamation point indicates receipt of a reply.

.:       Each period indicates the network server timed out while waiting for a reply.

U:     A destination unreachable error PDU was received.

Q:     Source quench (destination too busy).

M:    Could not fragment.

?:      Unknown packet type.

&:     Packet lifetime exceeded