VXLAN Fundamentals, Encapsulation, Data-Plane and Control-Plane Learning
Half-Day Instructor-Led Lab Class
Available in either Web-Based Delivery or On-Site Delivery
Minimum 10 students – Maximum 16 students
Course Description
Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) has become an important technology for building scalable data-center and modern network fabrics. Traditional Ethernet VLANs provide useful Layer 2 segmentation, but large networks require greater scalability, flexibility, and the ability to extend logical networks across a routed Layer 3 infrastructure.
CSI-IL-013 – Understanding VXLAN is a focused four-hour advanced course that explains what VXLAN is, the problems it solves, how VXLAN encapsulation works, and how VXLAN networks learn and forward traffic.
Students examine VXLAN through both configuration and packet analysis, including the use of Wireshark to see what actually happens on the network.
The course addresses practical questions such as:
- Why was VXLAN developed?
- How does VXLAN extend Layer 2 networking across Layer 3 infrastructure?
- What is a VXLAN Network Identifier?
- How is an Ethernet frame encapsulated in VXLAN?
- What role does the Layer 3 underlay play?
- How does VXLAN data-plane learning work?
- How does control-plane learning differ?
- What does VXLAN traffic look like in Wireshark?
- How can VXLAN operation be verified in a lab environment?
Why VXLAN Matters
VXLAN separates the logical Layer 2 network from the physical Layer 3 transport network. This allows network designers to build scalable routed fabrics while still providing Layer 2 connectivity where applications and services require it.
VXLAN also greatly expands the number of available logical network segments compared with traditional VLANs and allows the underlying routed network to take advantage of technologies such as Equal-Cost Multipath routing.
Understanding this relationship is essential for engineers working with modern data-center and overlay-network designs.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the networking problems VXLAN is designed to solve.
- Describe the fundamental architecture of VXLAN.
- Explain VXLAN terminology and encapsulation.
- Understand the relationship between the VXLAN overlay and Layer 3 underlay.
- Explain the purpose of VXLAN Network Identifiers.
- Examine VXLAN packets using Wireshark.
- Explain fundamental VXLAN data-plane learning.
- Understand the role of IP multicast in VXLAN environments.
- Explain fundamental VXLAN control-plane learning.
- Configure and observe VXLAN operation in a hands-on lab environment.
- Use network evidence to verify VXLAN behavior.
The emphasis is on understanding how VXLAN works rather than simply memorizing configuration commands.
Audience
This advanced course is designed for technical professionals who need a practical understanding of VXLAN and modern data-center networking.
Ideal participants include:
- Data Center Engineers and Technicians
- Network Engineers
- Service Provider Engineers
- Network Operations personnel
- Network Design Engineers
- Network Administrators
- Systems Engineers
- Development and Test Engineers
- Network Management personnel
- Technical Sales Engineers
- Technical Marketing personnel
- Individuals preparing for advanced networking certifications
Course Prerequisites
This is an advanced networking course.
Students should already have a solid understanding of:
- Ethernet and Layer 2 switching
- VLANs
- IPv4 networking
- Layer 3 routing
- OSPF
- BGP
- Cisco IOS configuration
The course does not provide introductory instruction on these technologies.
Students who need additional routing preparation should complete CellStream’s OSPF, BGP, or advanced Layer 3 routing training before attending this course.
Course Materials
Students receive:
- VXLAN experiments and demonstrations
- Course Student Guide
- Lab topology information
- GNS3-based lab materials
- VXLAN configuration exercises
- Wireshark analysis exercises
Course Outline:
The course outline is as follows:
- Section 1: Course Introduction/Logistics
- Section 2: The Problems VXLAN Solves
- Section 3: VXLAN Defined, Terminology, Encapsulation
- Section 4: VXLAN Through the Eyes of Wireshark
- Section 5: VXLAN Operations: Data Plane Learning
- DEMO/LAB: VXLAN Experiment #1
- DEMO/LAB: VXLAN Experiment #2
- Section 6: VXLAN Operations: Control Plane Learning
- DEMO/LAB: VXLAN Experiment #3
Why Take This Course?
VXLAN terminology can make the technology appear more complicated than it needs to be.
This focused course connects the major concepts quickly:
- Why VXLAN exists.
- How VXLAN encapsulates Ethernet traffic.
- How the overlay uses a Layer 3 underlay.
- How traffic is learned and forwarded.
- And what VXLAN looks like on the wire.
Students leave with a practical foundation that can support deeper study of data-center fabrics, advanced routing, and overlay networking.
Related Training
Students who want to continue developing their data-center and advanced Layer 3 skills may progress into CellStream training covering:
- Advanced Layer 3 Routing
- OSPF
- BGP
- IP Multicast
- Ethernet
- Wireshark and Packet Analysis
- IPv6
- MPLS
Course Availability:
Contact us for schedule dates and times via our contact form or through the details provided on the page.
View the course calendar and browse for our schedule. It will show scheduled courses and available dates for scheduling.
Course Description, Content, Outline, and Instructional Design are Copyright ©CellStream, Inc.