In modern data centers, EVPN/VXLAN is the go-to for scalable, multi-tenant architectures. But when designing your fabric, should you choose Edge Routed Bridging (ERB) or Centrally Routed Bridging (CRB)?
- Lower Latency & Less Congestion – Routing happens at the leaf, reducing spine load.
- Localized Bridging – L2 lookups happen locally, minimizing BUM traffic.
- Distributed Anycast Gateway – All leafs act as default gateways, preventing traffic hairpinning.
- Better Control-Plane Efficiency – ARP suppression & optimized MAC learning reduce overhead.
- Increased Complexity – Each leaf handles both L2 and L3, adding config challenges.
- Higher Hardware Costs – More powerful ASICs needed for VXLAN encapsulation/decapsulation.
- Automation is Key – Any config change must be applied across all leaf switches.
- More VXLAN Tunnels – Higher overhead vs. CRB design.
- Advanced Troubleshooting – Requires deep expertise in ARP suppression, MAC learning, BGP-EVPN, and east-west traffic flows.
?? Which topology do you use in your designs, and why? Let’s discuss below! ????
Can ERB and CRB coexist? Which do you see more often? Which has been easier to deploy and maintain?