Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6)

Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) is mostly a solution in search of a problem, reimplementing source routing with various forms of IPv6 extension headers. Not surprisingly, its vocal proponents sell it as the ultimate solution to all networking problems.

Is It Useful?

Is it useful to have yet another tunneling mechanism with source routing capabilities? Here are a few thoughts:

• SRv6: One Tool to Rule Them All
• SR-MPLS or SRv6 for Greenfield Networks
• BGP, EVPN, VXLAN, or SRv6?
• The Benefits of SRv6
• BGP-Free Network Core with SRv6

No, It Is Not

Quite a few people (myself included) came to the conclusion that SRv6 makes little sense:

• Segment Routing Anyone?
• SR(x)6 - Snake Oil Or Salvation?
• Non-Standard Standards, SRv6 Edition
• SRv6 as a Host-to-Host Overlay

SRv6 Configuration Tips

Here’s what I figured out when developing netlab SRv6 configuration templates:

• Sample netlab SRv6 Lab Topologies
• Configuring SRv6 on Junos (Locator and IGP)

Potential Use Cases

A few people (besides vendor Distinguished Marketing Engineers) have proposed potentially interesting SRv6 use cases:

• Do We Need Segment Routing?
• SwiNOG 40: Application-Based Source Routing with SRv6

Still want to try out SRv6?

• Cisco IOS/XR SRv6 Test Topologies

More Information

• We implemented SRv6 in netlab. You can try it out on Cisco IOS XE, Cisco IOS XR, FRRouting, Junos, and Nokia SR Linux.
• Browse netlab SRv6 integration tests and SRv6 examples for sample lab topologies.
• Watch the Segment Routing Introduction videos by Jeff Tantsura
• Tiziano Tofoni covered SRv6 basics in his ITNOG10 workshop presentation
• @eldananivas collected numerous SRv6-related links into an open-source SRv6 knowledge base.