MPLS VPN VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

Last Updated: December 15, 2011

The MPLS VPN: VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature is an extension of the MPLS VPN: VRF Selection Based on Source IP Address feature. This feature introduces a policy-based routing (PBR) mechanism to classify and forward Virtual Private Network (VPN) traffic based on multiple VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) selection match criteria.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest feature information and caveats, see the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the Feature Information Table at the end of this document.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Prerequisites for VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

The router must support PBR to configure this feature. For platforms that do not support PBR, use the "VRF Selection Based on Source IP Address" feature introduced in Cisco IOS Release 12.0(22)S.

A VRF must be defined prior to the configuration of this feature. An error message is displayed on the console if no VRF exists.

This document assumes that multiprotocol BGP (mBGP), Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and Cisco Express Forwarding are enabled in your network.

Restrictions for VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature is supported only in service provider (-p-) images.

The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature can coexist with the VRF Selection Based on Source IP address feature on the same router, but these features cannot be configured together on the same interface. This is designed behavior to prevent VRF table selection conflicts that could occur if these features were misconfigured together. An error message is displayed on the console if you attempt to configure the ip vrf select source and the ip policy route-map commands on the same interface.

Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) and multicast packets do not support PBR and cannot be configured for a source IP address that is a match criterion for this feature.

The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature cannot be configured with IP prefix lists.

Information About VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

Introduction to VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature is an extension of the VRF Selection Based on Source IP Address feature. The PBR implementation of the VRF selection feature allows you to policy route VPN traffic based on match criteria. Match criteria are defined in an IP access list or based on packet length. The following match criteria are supported in Cisco software:

  • IP access lists--Define match criteria based on IP addresses, IP address ranges, and other IP packet access list filtering options. Named, numbered, standard, and extended access lists are supported. All IP access-list configuration options in Cisco software can be used to define match criteria.
  • Packet lengths--Define match criteria based on the length of a packet in bytes. The packet length filter is defined in a route map with the match length route-map configuration command.

Policy routing is defined in the route map. The route map is applied to the incoming interface with the ip policy route-map interface configuration command. An IP access list is applied to the route map with the match ip address route-map configuration command. Packet length match criteria are applied to the route map with the match length route-map configuration command. The set action is defined with the set vrf route-map configuration command. The match criteria are evaluated, and the appropriate VRF is selected by the set clause. This combination allows you to define match criteria for incoming VPN traffic and policy route VPN packets out to the appropriate VRF.

Policy-Based Routing Set Clauses Overview

When you are configuring PBR, the following four set clauses can be used to change normal routing and forwarding behavior:

  • set default interface
  • set interface
  • set ip default next-hop
  • set ip next-hop

Configuring any of the set clauses will overwrite normal routing forwarding behavior of a packet.

The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature introduces the fifth set clause that can be used to change normal routing and forwarding behavior. The set vrf command is used to select the appropriate VRF after the successful match occurs in the route map.

How to Configure VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

Defining the Match Criteria for PBR VRF Selection Based on Packet Length

The match criteria for PBR VRF route selection are defined in an access list. Standard and named access lists are supported. Match criteria can also be defined based on the packet length using the match length route-map configuration command. This configuration option is defined entirely within a route map.

Prerequisites

Before you perform this task, make sure that the VRF and associated IP address are already defined.

Configuring PBR VRF Selection with a Standard Access List

Use the following commands to create a standard access list and define the PBR VRF route selection match criteria in it in order to permit or deny the transmission of VPN traffic data packets.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    access-list access-list-number {deny | permit} source-addr [source-wildcard] [log]


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
access-list access-list-number {deny | permit} source-addr [source-wildcard] [log]


Example:

Router(config)# access-list 40 permit 10.1.0.0/24 0.0.0.255

 

Creates an access list and defines the match criteria for the route map.

  • Match criteria can be defined based on IP addresses, IP address ranges, and other IP packet access-list filtering options. Named, numbered, standard, and extended access lists are supported. All IP access list configuration options in Cisco software can be used to define match criteria.
  • The example creates a standard access list numbered 40. This filter will permit traffic from any host with an IP address in the 10.1.0.0/24 subnet.
 

Configuring PBR VRF Selection with a Named Access List

Use the following commands to define the PBR VRF route selection match criteria in a named access list in order to permit or deny the transmission of VPN traffic data packets.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    ip access-list {standard | extended} [access-list-name | access-list-number]

4.    [sequence-number] {permit | deny} protocol source-addr source-wildcard destination-addr destination-wildcard [option option-value] [precedence precedence] [tos tos] [log] [time-range time-range-name] [fragments]


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
ip access-list {standard | extended} [access-list-name | access-list-number]


Example:

Router(config)# ip access-list extended NAMEDACL

 

Specifies the IP access list type and enters the corresponding access-list configuration mode.

  • A standard, extended, or named access list can be used.
 
Step 4
[sequence-number] {permit | deny} protocol source-addr source-wildcard destination-addr destination-wildcard [option option-value] [precedence precedence] [tos tos] [log] [time-range time-range-name] [fragments]


Example:

Router(config-ext-nacl)# permit ip any any option any-options

 

Defines the criteria for which the access list will permit or deny packets.

  • Match criteria can be defined based on IP addresses, IP address ranges, and other IP packet access-list filtering options. Named, numbered, standard, and extended access lists are supported. All IP access-list configuration options in Cisco software can be used to define match criteria.
  • The example creates a named access list that permits any configured IP option.
 

Configuring PBR VRF Selection in a Route Map

Use the following commands to configure the VRF through which the outbound VPN packets will be policy routed in order to permit or deny the transmission of VPN traffic data packets.

Incoming packets are filtered through the match criteria that are defined in the route map. After a successful match occurs, the set vrf command configuration determines the VRF through which the outbound VPN packets will be policy routed.

Before You Begin
  • The VRF must be defined prior to the configuration of the route map; otherwise an error message is displayed on the console.
  • A receive entry must be added to the VRF selection table with the ip vrf receive command. If a match and set operation occurs in the route map but there is no receive entry in the local VRF table, the packet will be dropped if the packet destination is local.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    route-map map-tag [permit | deny] [sequence-number]

4.   Do one of the following:

  • match ip address {acl-number [acl-number ... | acl-name ...] | acl-name [acl-name ... | acl-number ...]}
  • match length minimum-length maximum-length

5.    set vrf vrf-name

6.    exit


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
route-map map-tag [permit | deny] [sequence-number]


Example:

Router(config)# route-map map1 permit 10

 

Enters route map configuration mode.

Defines the conditions for redistributing routes from one routing protocol into another, or enables policy routing.

 
Step 4
Do one of the following:
  • match ip address {acl-number [acl-number ... | acl-name ...] | acl-name [acl-name ... | acl-number ...]}
  • match length minimum-length maximum-length


Example:

Router(config-route-map)# match ip address 1



Example:

Router(config-route-map)# match length 3 200

 

Distributes any routes that have a destination network number address that is permitted by a standard or extended access list, and performs policy routing on matched packets.

  • IP access lists are supported.
  • The example configures the route map to use standard access list 1 to define match criteria.

or

Specifies the Layer 3 packet length in the IP header as a match criterion in a class map.

  • The example configures the route map to match packets that are 3 to 200 bytes in size.
 
Step 5
set vrf vrf-name


Example:

Router(config-route-map)# set vrf map1

 

Defines which VRF to route VPN packets that are successfully matched in the same route map sequence for PBR VRF selection.

  • The example policy routes matched packets out to the VRF named map1.
 
Step 6
exit


Example:

Router(config-route-map)# exit

 

Exits route-map configuration mode and enters global configuration mode.

 

Configuring PBR on the Interface

Use the following commands to filter incoming VPN traffic data packets. Incoming packets are filtered through the match criteria that are defined in the route map.

The route map is applied to the incoming interface. The route map is attached to the incoming interface with the ip policy route-map global configuration command.


Note
  • The VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature can coexist with the VRF Selection Based on Source IP address feature on the same router, but the two features cannot be configured together on the same interface. This is designed behavior to prevent VRF table selection conflicts that could occur if these features were misconfigured together. An error message is displayed on the console if you attempt to configure the ip vrf select source and the ip policy route-map commands on the same interface.
>
SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    interface type number [name-tag]

4.    ip policy route-map map-tag

5.    ip vrf receive vrf-name

6.    exit


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
interface type number [name-tag]


Example:

Router(config)# interface FastEthernet 0/1

 

Configures an interface and enters interface configuration mode.

 
Step 4
ip policy route-map map-tag


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip policy route-map map1

 

Identifies a route map to use for policy routing on an interface.

  • The configuration example attaches the route map named map1 to the interface.
 
Step 5
ip vrf receive vrf-name


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip vrf receive VRF1

 

Adds the IP addresses that are associated with an interface into the VRF table.

  • This command must be configured for each VRF that will be used for VRF selection.
 
Step 6
exit


Example:

Router(config-if)# exit

 

Exits interface configuration mode and enters global configuration mode.

 

Configuring IP VRF Receive on the Interface

Use the following commands to insert the IP address of an interface as a connected route entry in a VRF routing table. This will prevent dropped packets.

The source IP address must be added to the VRF selection table. VRF selection is a one-way (unidirectional) feature. It is applied to the incoming interface. If a match and set operation occurs in the route map but there is no VRF receive entry in the local VRF table, the packet will be dropped if the packet destination is local.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    configure terminal

3.    interface type number [name-tag]

4.    ip policy route-map map-tag

5.    ip vrf receive vrf-name

6.    end


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
configure terminal


Example:

Router# configure terminal

 

Enters global configuration mode.

 
Step 3
interface type number [name-tag]


Example:

Router(config)# interface FastEthernet 0/1

 

Configures an interface and enters interface configuration mode.

 
Step 4
ip policy route-map map-tag


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip policy route-map map1

 

Identifies a route map to use for policy routing on an interface.

  • The configuration example attaches the route map named map1 to the interface.
 
Step 5
ip vrf receive vrf-name


Example:

Router(config-if)# ip vrf receive VRF1

 

Adds the IP addresses that are associated with an interface into the VRF table.

  • This command must be configured for each VRF that will be used for VRF selection.
 
Step 6
end


Example:

Router(config-if)# end

 

Exits interface configuration mode, and enters privileged EXEC mode.

 

Verifying the Configuration of the VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

To verify the configuration of the VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature, perform each of the following steps in this section in the order specified.

SUMMARY STEPS

1.    enable

2.    show ip access-list [access-list-number | access-list-name]

3.    show route-map [map-name]

4.    show ip policy


DETAILED STEPS
  Command or Action Purpose
Step 1
enable


Example:

Router> enable

 

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

  • Enter your password if prompted.
 
Step 2
show ip access-list [access-list-number | access-list-name]


Example:

Router# show ip access-list

 

Displays the contents of all current IP access lists.

  • This command is used to verify the match criteria that are defined in the access list. Both named and numbered access lists are supported.
 
Step 3
show route-map [map-name]


Example:

Router# show route-map

 

Displays all route maps configured or only the one specified.

  • This command is used to verify match and set clauses within the route map.
 
Step 4
show ip policy


Example:

Router# show ip policy

 

Displays the route map used for policy routing.

  • This command can be used to display the route map and the associated interface.
 

Configuration Examples for VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

Example Defining PBR VRF Selection in Access List

In the following example, three standard access lists are created to define match criteria for three different subnets. Any packets received on the FastEthernet 0/1/0 interface will be policy routed through the PBR-VRF-Selection route map to the VRF that is matched in the same route map sequence. If the source IP address of the packet is part of the 10.1.0.0/24 subnet, VRF1 will be used for routing and forwarding. 

access-list 40 permit 10.1.0.0 0.0.255.255
access-list 50 permit 10.2.0.0 0.0.255.255
access-list 60 permit 10.3.0.0 0.0.255.255
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection permit 10
 match ip address 40
 set vrf VRF1
 !
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection permit 20
 match ip address 50
 set vrf VRF2
 !
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection permit 30
 match ip address 60
 set vrf VRF3
 !
interface FastEthernet0/1/0
 ip address 10.1.0.0/24 255.255.255.252
 ip policy route-map PBR-VRF-Selection
 ip vrf receive VRF1
 ip vrf receive VRF2
 ip vrf receive VRF3

Example Verifying VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

The following verification examples show defined match criteria and route-map policy configuration.

Verifying Match Criteria

To verify the configuration of match criteria for PBR VRF selection, use the show ip access-list command.

The following show ip access-list command output displays three subnet ranges defined as match criteria in three standard access lists: 

Router# show ip access-list
Standard IP access list 40
    10 permit 10.1.0.0, wildcard bits 0.0.255.255
Standard IP access list 50
    10 permit 10.2.0.0, wildcard bits 0.0.255.255
Standard IP access list 60
    10 permit 10.3.0.0, wildcard bits 0.0.255.255

Verifying Route-Map Configuration

To verify route-map configuration, use the show route-map command. The output displays the match criteria and set action for each route-map sequence. The output also displays the number of packets and bytes that have been policy routed per each route-map sequence. 

Router# show route-map
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection, permit, sequence 10
  Match clauses:
    ip address (access-lists): 40 
  Set clauses:
    vrf VRF1
  Policy routing matches: 0 packets, 0 bytes
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection, permit, sequence 20
  Match clauses:
    ip address (access-lists): 50 
  Set clauses:
    vrf VRF2
  Policy routing matches: 0 packets, 0 bytes
route-map PBR-VRF-Selection, permit, sequence 30
  Match clauses:
    ip address (access-lists): 60 
  Set clauses:
    vrf VRF3
  Policy routing matches: 0 packets, 0 bytes

Verifying PBR VRF Selection Policy

The following show ip policy command output displays the interface and associated route map that is configured for policy routing:

Router# show ip policy
Interface                Route map
FastEthernet0/1/0        PBR-VRF-Selection

Additional References

Related Documents

Related Topic

Document Title

VRF selection based on the source IP address

Directing MPLS VPN Traffic Using a Source IP Address

Standards

Standard

Title

No new or modified standards are supported by this feature, and support for existing standards has not been modified by this feature

--

MIBs

MIB

MIBs Link

No new or modified MIBs are supported by this feature, and support for existing MIBs has not been modified by this feature.

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco software releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

RFCs

RFC

Title

No new or modified RFCs are supported by this feature, and support for existing standards has not been modified by this feature.

--

Technical Assistance

Description

Link

The Cisco Support website provides extensive online resources, including documentation and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with Cisco products and technologies.

To receive security and technical information about your products, you can subscribe to various services, such as the Product Alert Tool (accessed from Field Notices), the Cisco Technical Services Newsletter, and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds.

Access to most tools on the Cisco Support website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Feature Information for VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Table 1 Feature Information for VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

Feature Name

Releases

Feature Information

MPLS VPN: VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing

12.3(7)T

12.2(25)S

12.2(33)SRB

12.2(33)SXI

The MPLS VPN: VRF Selection Using Policy-Based Routing feature is an extension of the MPLS VPN: VRF Selection Based on Source IP Address feature. This feature introduces a policy-based routing (PBR) mechanism to classify and forward Virtual Private Network (VPN) traffic based on multiple VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) selection match criteria.

In 12.3(7)T, this feature was introduced.

This feature was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2(25)S.

This feature was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2(33)SRB.

This feature was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2(33)SXI.

The following commands were introduced or modified: ip vrf receive, set vrf.

Glossary

PBR --policy-based routing.

VPN --Virtual Private Network.

VRF --virtual routing and forwarding.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and phone numbers used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses and phone numbers. Any examples, command display output, network topology diagrams, and other figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses or phone numbers in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.

© 2011 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.