Archive

Category Archives for "Networking"

NSX Layer 2 VPN: Deploying for datacentre migrations

In my previous post, NSX Layer 2 VPN: Migrating workloads between Datacentres, I described the process and theory behind using an NSX Layer 2 VPN (L2VPN) to migrate workloads from a soon-to-be-retired VLAN backed datacentre, to an NSX Managed logical switch backed datacentre. In this post I will take you through the deployment of the L2VPN in my lab environment, following these high-level steps:

  • Prepare the NSX Managed Site
  • Deploy the Layer 2 VPN Server
  • Prepare the Standalone Site
  • Deploy the Layer 2 VPN Client
  • Validate the Layer 2 VPN connectivity

Current lab environment

The Lab environment I am using currently reflects the diagram below, with two VMs deployed onto VLAN 20 within my “remote” site (my remote site is actually just a separate cluster from my “NSX Managed Site”, which is my workload cluster). In my NSX Managed site I have a Provider Logical Router (PLR) and Distributed Logical Router (DLR) configured.

Current lab layout

Current lab layout

Configure the NSX Managed Site

To prepare the NSX Managed Site the L2VPN-Server needs to be connected to a “trunk” interface, which allows multiple VLAN or Logical Switches to be configured as sub-interfaces, rather than having an interface in each VLAN/Logical Switch.

The Continue reading

Enterprise Network on GNS3 – Part 7 – DMZ

This is the last article from the series of the articles discussing configuration of the enterprise network. The article explains the configuration of Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Our DMZ consists of three devices - ASAv-DMZ-I, a multilayer switch vIOS-DMZ-I and Serv-DMZ-I. All the devices in DMZ are run by Qemu hypervisor. The ASAv_DMZ-I device is Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software version 9.6.1 and it has assigned 2048 MB RAM by GNS3. The device vIOS-DMZ-I is Cisco vIOS-L2 version 15.2 and it has assigned 512 MB RAM by GNS3. And finally, the device Serv-DMZ-I is Linux Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS with 1024 MB RAM assigned by GNS3. The server Serv-DMZ-I provides DNS, NTP, Syslog services for devices in DMZ and a public web service for all hosts in the Internet.

Picture 1 - Demilitarized Zone - DMZ

All devices located in DMZ have their IP addresses assigned from the subnet 195.1.1.128/25. The subnet 195.1.1.128/27 is further divided with /30 mask, creating 8 subnets suitable for point-to-point link configuration . Servers located in DMZ are assigned to different VLANs. Currently, there is only server Serv-DMZ-I deployed in DMZ and configured with the IP addresses Continue reading

Enterprise Network on GNS3 – Part 7 – DMZ

This is the last article from the series of the articles discussing configuration of the enterprise network. The article explains the configuration of Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Our DMZ consists of three devices - ASAv-DMZ-I, a multilayer switch vIOS-DMZ-I and Serv-DMZ-I. All the devices in DMZ are run by Qemu hypervisor. The ASAv_DMZ-I device is Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Software version 9.6.1 and it has assigned 2048 MB RAM by GNS3. The device vIOS-DMZ-I is Cisco vIOS-L2 version 15.2 and it has assigned 512 MB RAM by GNS3. And finally, the device Serv-DMZ-I is Linux Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS with 1024 MB RAM assigned by GNS3. The server Serv-DMZ-I provides DNS, NTP, Syslog services for devices in DMZ and a public web service for all hosts in the Internet.

Picture 1 - Demilitarized Zone - DMZ

All devices located in DMZ have their IP addresses assigned from the subnet 195.1.1.128/25. The subnet 195.1.1.128/27 is further divided with /30 mask, creating 8 subnets suitable for point-to-point link configuration . Servers located in DMZ are assigned to different VLANs. Currently, there is only server Serv-DMZ-I deployed in DMZ and configured with the IP addresses Continue reading

Memcached DDoS – There’s Still Time to Save Your Mind

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new vector for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks out there right now and it’s pretty massive. The first mention I saw this week was from Cloudflare, where they details that they were seeing a huge influx of traffic from UDP port 11211. That’s the port used by memcached, a database caching system.

Surprisingly, or not, there were thousands of companies that had left UDP/11211 open to the entire Internet. And, by design, memcached responds to anyone that queries that port. Also, carefully crafted packets can be amplified to have massive responses. In Cloudflare’s testing they were able to send a 15 byte packet and get a 134KB response. Given that this protocol is UDP and capable of responding to forged packets in such a way as to make life miserable for Cloudflare and, now, Github, which got blasted with the largest DDoS attack on record.

How can you fix this problem in your network? There are many steps you can take, whether you are a system admin or a network admin:

  • Go to Shodan and see if you’re affected. Just plug in your company’s IP address ranges and have it Continue reading

How to deal with networking IoT devices

Networking IoT devices can be challenging for IT managers because the communications requirements can be very different from those for typical PCs, tablets and smartphones currently connected to corporate networks. +RELATED: Most powerful internet of things companies; What is the industrial IoT? And why the stakes are so high+In addition, there is an incredible diversity of IoT devices and how they are used. For example:To read this article in full, please click here

How to deal with networking IoT devices

Networking IoT devices can be challenging for IT managers because the communications requirements can be very different from those for typical PCs, tablets and smartphones currently connected to corporate networks. +RELATED: Most powerful internet of things companies; What is the industrial IoT? And why the stakes are so high+In addition, there is an incredible diversity of IoT devices and how they are used. For example:To read this article in full, please click here

Video: Create an NSX Logical Switch with PowerNSX

After introducing PowerNSX Anthony Burke illustrated how easy it is to use with a Hello, World equivalent: creating a logical switch (VXLAN segment).

You’ll need at least free ipSpace.net subscription to watch the video.

Want to know more about VMware NSX? We’ll run an NSX-focused event and a NSX Deep Dive workshop in Zurich on April 19th 2018, an overview webinar comparing NSX, ACI and EVPN on March 1st, and a deep dive in VMware NSX architecture later in 2018.