All things related to multicast

[debbie fligor <>]

We're doing some planning for our next-generation campus core  
network.  We're planning on using VRFs to provide some specialty  
services (like a high-speed research network that bypasses the exit  
firewalls).

Here's a very simplified version of what we're thinking it will look  
like:

and an ascii version for those that don't do inline jpegs:

vrf blue net 3 --- (dist router) -- (core router) -- (dist router) ---  
vrf blue net 4
                   /                                      /
vrf red net 1 ----/                         vrf red net 2/


We want to be sure that Intra-VRF multicast (eg. from net 3 to net 4,  
all in the "blue" vrf) will work if the links between the dist routers  
and core routers are MPLS based.  We're confident we can make it work  
if the links between the core and dist routers are L2 and we use VRF- 
lite, but we are interested in considering MPLS instead.

We're assuming we'll be able to make the Inter VRF multicast work,  
even if it's a the other side of our exit, by treating them as L3  
peerings.


So if you've done something like this, how did you do it?  So far it  
looks like we'd have to run BGP as a core routing protocol and  
exchange NLRIs with MBGP, if that's even defined over MPLS (I don't  
think the standard for that is done, info on that is also  
appreciated). We're not sure BGP makes an ideal core routing protocol  
for a campus.

We're especially interested in hearing how you have made something  
like this work (or not!) on Cisco 6500's and Juniper MX-480 or  
MX-960.  Anything you've done with other vendor's gear that you think  
might be insightful is also appreciated.

thanks!


-----
-debbie
Debbie Fligor, n9dn       Network Engineer, CITES, Univ. of Il
email: 

          <http://www.uiuc.edu/ph/www/fligor>
                   "My turn."  -River Tam