Logical Systems Applications
Logical systems are discrete contexts that virtually divide a supported device into multiple devices, isolating one from another and protecting them from faulty conditions outside their own contexts.
The logical systems functionality enables you to partition the device and assign private logical systems to groups or organizations. Logical systems are defined largely by the resources allocated to them, features enabled for the logical context, their routing configurations, and their logical interface assignments. Logical systems segment a physical routing device to be configured and operated as multiple independent routing devices within a platform. This isolates routing protocols and interfaces among up to 16 logical systems (including the master logical system). User permissions and access are defined separately for each logical system, enabling different groups to manage the same physical device. Logical systems enable the use of large routing devices in small routing device roles and provide flexible segmentation of routing by service type. Multiple service capabilities bring improved asset optimization by consolidating services into one device.
For example, logical systems enable the following services on a single routing device platform:
- Internet BGP peering
- Core transit
- Edge aggregation and dedicated access
- MPLS provider edge (PE) and provider (P) VPN label-switched routing routers (LSRs)
Figure 1 shows how logical systems can be used for horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, and managed services. Horizontal consolidation occurs when you combine routing device functions of the same layer into a single routing device. Vertical consolidation occurs when you collapse routing device functions of different layers into a single routing device. With managed services, each logical system is a customer routing device.
Figure 1: Applications of Logical Systems
