[c-nsp] MPLS EXP on STP Frames (6500)

[Robert Williams]

Hi all,

Is anyone aware of a feature which allows the EXP value on an STP frame to be set when it is encapsulated by a xconnect on a 6500?

Example config:

int gi1/1
  description Customer Port
  xconnect 1.2.3.4 666 encapsulation mpls
  service-policy input set-exp-3

policy-map set-exp-3
 class class-default
   set mpls experimental imposition 3

I would expect all traffic which ingresses on that customer port to be set to EXP 3 when it is encapsulated. This is, unfortunately, not the case....

When the traffic egresses the 6500, it is 'mostly' set to EXP 3 - except - a few special things, like the STP frames, LLDP and some other control-type stuff. Basically, only the IP stuff gets set to EXP 3.

Control things get various values, STP for example goes to EXP 0 - and nothing changes this as far as I can find. I have also noticed some other types of traffic are set to other values (like EXP 5,6,7) so clearly there are more exceptions than just STP, but I figure that they are probably controlled by the same knob/feature, somewhere...

Platform is Cat6500 with S720-10G, X6748 cards and IOS 15.1(2)SY6

It's a specific customer requirement so changing platform isn't an option in this case. I've also tried re-writing it (to EXP 3) on egress out of the box towards the MPLS core, but this isn't supported on this platform. I also tried setting it on the tunnel, but again that is only supported in ingress, not egress...

So - any ideas anyone?

Cheers!


Robert Williams
Custodian Data Centres
https://www.CustodianDC.com