EVPN for the rest of us – what happens when software people try to use EVPN#

Molly Miller (Flying Circus Internet Operations)

• Why: A first-hand account of migrating from flat L2 to EVPN-VXLAN terminated directly on Linux hypervisors — zero customer downtime during a week-long production migration. Directly relevant to the PM's DC fabric and Linux networking interests.
• What: An ~9-month project (design started late 2023) to replace an aging flat L2 DC network with EVPN-VXLAN terminated on Linux hypervisors, culminating in an intensive week-long migration with zero downtime. The talk covers debugging tales from the lab, peculiar technical decisions, unexpected surprises, and ongoing pain points a year into operation. (from abstract only)
• How: Not detailed in the abstract; the key architectural decision is EVPN-VXLAN terminated directly on Linux hypervisors rather than on TOR switches — implying FRR/Linux-based VTEPs and control plane. Debugging and operational details are the substance of the talk.
• Where applicable: Small-to-mid DC operators with strong Linux/software expertise who want to modernize from flat L2 without a traditional switch-centric EVPN fabric. The Linux-hypervisor-terminated EVPN approach requires software networking depth but avoids dependence on switch-vendor EVPN implementations.