Introduction to Configuring VPLS
Virtual private LAN service (VPLS) allows you to provide a point-to-multipoint LAN between a set of sites in a virtual private network (VPN).
To configure VPLS functionality, you must enable VPLS support on the provider edge (PE) router. You must also configure PE routers to distribute routing information to the other PE routers in the VPLS and configure the circuits between the PE routers and the customer edge (CE) routers.
 | Note: In the VPLS documentation, the word router in terms such as PE router is used to refer to any device that provides routing functions. |
Each VPLS is configured under a routing instance of type vpls. A vpls routing instance can transparently carry Ethernet traffic across the service provider’s network. As with other routing instances, all logical interfaces belonging to a VPLS routing instance are listed under that instance.
In addition to VPLS routing instance configuration, you must configure MPLS label-switched paths (LSPs) between the PE routers, IBGP sessions between the PE routers, and an interior gateway protocol (IGP) on the PE and provider (P) routers.
By default, VPLS is disabled.
Many configuration procedures for VPLS are identical to the procedures for Layer 2 VPNs and Layer 3 VPNs.
