On 19/07/2010, at 11:08 PM, Manu Chao wrote:

> DRILL...
> *Will Fabric Path* be based on OTV?

no.

OTV is a technology that allows us to extend L2 across any L3 (IP) 
infrastructure.  Cisco Fabric Path is in essence the ability to run L2 networks 
without spanning tree and all links active.


Cisco Fabric Path is a term we are using for what is in essence what will be 
IETF TRILL / RBridges (http://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/trill/charter/) with 
enhancements.

right now the hardware is using a frame format that is not that of what TRILL 
uses (and as such we're using a Cisco-defined ethertype), however the hardware 
is capable of supporting standards-based TRILL as and when the standard is 
finalised & ratified.

there are numerous other things involved in achieving that too - changes to how 
mac learning happens, mechanisms for not having to learn every mac address at 
edge ports or on unidirectional communication - how one can run FHRPs (HSRP, 
VRRP, GLBP) active/active - and more - hence why we've using a Cisco term for 
the technology.

both OTV and Cisco FabricPath (& TRILL) use ISIS as the link-state routing 
protocol but their use is vastly different between them.  in FabricPath & 
TRILL, ISIS is used to build the topology of _switches_ and (multiple) 
topologies that run over those switches for e.g. unicast, broadcast, multicast.
in OTV, ISIS is used for advertising the mac-addresses of connected devices in 
the network.



On 20/07/2010, at 7:42 AM, Phil Bedard wrote:
>> From my understanding the initial FP is proprietary and uses 802.1ah 
>> (mac-in-mac)
>> encapsulation which is very different from TRILL which has its own header 
>> format which is not MAC address based (canonical nicknames instead.)  Cisco 
>> has said they will support standard TRILL at a later date. 

much of what you've stated here is fairly accurate except for that its based / 
uses 802.1ah.
nothing to do with 802.1ah.


cheers,

lincoln.


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