Designing a Cisco Enterprise Network: Solution for Availability and Cost Reduction

Solution for Availability and Cost Reduction

Question

A large chain of stores currently uses MPLS-based T1 lines to connect their stores to their data center.

An architect must design a new solution to improve availability and reduce costs while keeping these considerations in mind: -> The company uses multicast to deliver training to the stores.

-> The company uses dynamic routing protocols and has implemented QoS.

-> To simplify deployments, tunnels should be created dynamically on the hub when additional stores open.

Which solution should be included in this design?

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D.

C.

In this scenario, the architect needs to design a solution that improves availability and reduces costs while considering the use of multicast for training delivery, dynamic routing protocols, QoS implementation, and dynamic tunnel creation for new stores. The best solution would be DM VPN (Dynamic Multipoint VPN).

DM VPN is a Cisco proprietary solution that allows multiple sites to connect to a hub site over the Internet or any WAN connection without the need for dedicated point-to-point links. It uses a combination of GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) and IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) to create a secure, scalable, and dynamic VPN infrastructure.

DM VPN provides the following benefits:

  1. Dynamic creation of tunnels: DM VPN allows the creation of tunnels dynamically between the hub and spoke sites, which simplifies deployments and reduces configuration overheads. Whenever a new store opens, a new tunnel can be created on the hub router without requiring any configuration on the spoke routers.

  2. Scalability: DM VPN allows for an almost unlimited number of spokes to be connected to the hub site, which makes it an ideal solution for large enterprise networks.

  3. QoS support: DM VPN supports QoS, which ensures that the critical applications, such as training delivery, receive the necessary bandwidth and priority over non-critical applications.

  4. Multicast support: DM VPN supports multicast, which allows for efficient and cost-effective delivery of training materials to multiple stores simultaneously.

  5. Security: DM VPN provides secure communication between the hub and spoke sites by using IPsec, which provides encryption and authentication.

Compared to the other options, VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service) is a Layer 2 VPN solution that would not be ideal for this scenario as it does not support multicast traffic. GET VPN (Group Encrypted Transport VPN) is a solution that provides encryption for traffic, but it does not support multicast traffic or dynamic tunnel creation. IPsec is a secure communication protocol that can be used in combination with GRE, but it does not provide the dynamic tunnel creation and scalability benefits of DM VPN.

Therefore, the best solution for this scenario would be DM VPN.