The microsegmentation feature, also called group-based security segregation, controls traffic based on groups the traffic assigned to. For example, you can group servers in data centers based on specific criteria and apply traffic control policies to different groups.

Basic concepts

Microsegment

A microsegment groups endpoints (such as servers) based on specific criteria. Each microsegment has a globally unique ID.

Group-based policy

A group-based policy (GBP) is a microsegment-based traffic control policy can be implemented by using PBR. A policy node corresponds to a GBP and controls communication between microsegments through the apply next-hop or apply output-interface null0 action. For more information about PBR, see Layer 3—IP Routing Configuration Guide.

Components of microsegmentation

As shown in Figure 1, the microsegmentation feature contains the microsegment, ACL, and GBP settings.

This feature controls whether members in different microsegments can communicate. The GBP takes effect on the local end of a link. To control bidirectional traffic, configure this feature on both ends. Intermediate nodes do not require the configuration of this feature.

This feature can be used in IP, VXLAN, and EVPN networks. The configurations are slightly different in different networks.

· In an IP network, all settings must be configured on the Layer 3 gateway devices. In a VXLAN or EVPN network, all settings must be configured on the VTEPs.

· In an EVPN network, if the microsegment settings are automatically synchronized to the remote end through the BGP extended community attribute in the MAC/IP advertisement route, you do not need to configure microsegment settings on the remote end.

Figure 1 Microsegmentation configuration workflow

Figure 2 Microsegmentation configuration workflow

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How microsegmentation works

The microsegmentation feature works in the same way in IP, VXLAN, and EVPN networks. As shown in Figure 3, this section takes unidirectional traffic in an IP network as an example to illustrate how this feature works.

1. After receiving a packet sent from Host A to Host D, Device A obtains its source IP address (192.168.1.2) and destination IP address (192.168.1.5).

2. Device A searches the FIB table for the source IP address according to the longest match rule and determines that Host A belongs to microsegment 1.

3. Device A searches the FIB table for the destination IP address according to the longest match rule and determines that Host B belongs to microsegment 2.

4. Device A matches microsegment 1 and microsegment 2 against ACLs and executes one of the following actions in the QoS policy on matching packets:

¡ Forwards matching packets if the action is apply next-hop.

¡ Drops matching packets if the action is apply output-interface null0.

Figure 3 Forwarding of Layer 3 packets in an IP network

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The microsegmentation feature works in the same way for cross-device packet forwarding.

Restrictions: Hardware compatibility with microsegmentation

Only the S5560X-HI and S6520X-HI switch series support this feature.

Restrictions and guidelines: Microsegmentation configuration

When you use this feature to control unidirectional inter-VPN traffic, follow these restrictions and guidelines:

· On the source PE device, if the route guiding traffic forwarding is a network route, you must add the destination address of the route to a microsegment as a member.

· On the destination PE device, if the route is a host route, you must add the destination address of the route to a microsegment as a member.

Microsegmentation tasks at a glance

To configure microsegmentation, perform the following tasks:

· Configuring a microsegment

· (Optional.) Configuring an aggregate microsegment

· Configuring an ACL

· Configuring a GBP.

Prerequisites for microsegmentation configuration

This feature can be used in IP, VXLAN, and EVPN networks. For information about configuring these features, see the relevant configuration guides.

Configuring a microsegment

Restrictions and guidelines

To control bidirectional traffic, follow these rules:

· In an IP or VXLAN network, configure the same microsegment settings on the two ends.

· In an EVPN network, configure a microsegment only on the local end. When distributing a MAC/IP advertisement route, the device carries the microsegment ID in the BGP extended community attribute. If the members (IP addresses) are in the distributed route, the microsegment settings are automatically synchronized to the remote end. The synchronized microsegment settings directly take effect on the remote end and are not subject to the microsegment enable command. If you also configure a microsegment on the remote end,, the synchronized microsegment settings overwrite the configured ones in the case of any setting differences.

For more information about MAC/IP advertisement routes, see EVPN overview in EVPN Configuration Guide.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Create a microsegment and enter microsegment view.

microsegment microsegment-id [ name microsegment-name ]

3. Add a member to the microsegment.

member ipv4 ipv4-address { mask | mask-length } [ vpn-instance vpn-instance-name ]

member ipv6 ipv6-address prefix-length [ vpn-instance vpn-instance-name ]

By default, a microsegment does not contain members.

4. (Optional.) Add users connected through the corresponding AC by mapping the microsegment interface to a VSI.

xconnect vsi

By default, a microsegment is not bound to any VSI.

The information about added users is not displayed in the display microsegment command output.

For more information about the xconnect vsi command, see VXLAN Command Reference.

5. Return to system view.

quit

6. Enable microsegmentation.

microsegment enable

By default, microsegmentation is disabled.

Configuring an aggregate microsegment

About this task

An aggregate microsegment is a group of microsegments with contiguous IDs. The ID of the aggregate microsegment is the start microsegment ID. You can use a mask to specify the member microsegments for an aggregate microsegment.

As shown in Figure 4, microsegments 8 through 15 can communicate with one another. To prevent communication between microsegments 12 and 14 and between microsegments 13 and 14, you can use an aggregate microsegment instead of reconfiguring microsegment settings. In this example, you can combine microsegments 12 and 13 to create an aggregate microsegment with ID 12, and use a GBP to prevent communication between aggregate microsegment 12 and microsegment 14.

Figure 4 Microsegment aggregation

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Create an aggregate microsegment and enter its view.

microsegment aggregation aggregation-id mask-length mask-length [ name aggregation-name ]

Configuring an ACL

Restrictions and guidelines

To control bidirectional traffic, you must configure an ACL on both ends and configure an ACL rule with swapped source and destination microsegments on the two ends.

The ACL rules must be permit rules. The apply action is taken on matching packets.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Create an IPv4 or IPv6 advanced ACL and enter its view. Choose one option as needed:

¡ acl [ ipv6 ] number acl-number [ name acl-name ] [ match-order { auto | config } ]

¡ acl [ ipv6 ] { advanced | basic } { acl-number | name acl-name } [ match-order { auto | config } ]

3. Configure a rule.

For more information, see the rule command in ACL and QoS Command Reference.

In the rule command, the destination microsegment microsegment-id and source microsegment microsegment-id options must be specified, and other parameters can be configured as needed.

Configuring a GBP

Configuring PBR

About this task

You can control communication between microsegments by referencing an ACL and specifying a next hop (permitting traffic) or the output interface NULL0 (dropping traffic) in a PBR policy.

For more information about PBR, see Layer 3—IP Routing Configuration Guide.

Restrictions and guidelines

To control bidirectional traffic, you must configure PBR on both ends.

Procedure

1. Enter system view.

system-view

2. Create a node for a policy, and enter its view.

policy-based-route policy-name [ deny | permit ] node node-number

3. Set an ACL match criterion for the node.

if-match acl { acl-number | name acl-name }

By default, no ACL match criterion is set.

4. Configure an action for the node. Choose one option as needed:

¡ Set a next hop.

apply next-hop ip-address

¡ Set NULL0 as the output interface.

apply output-interface null0

By default, no action is configured.

5. Return to system view.

quit

6. Specify the policy for interface PBR.

ip policy-based-route policy-name

By default, no interface policy is applied to an interface.

Display and maintenance commands for microsegmentation

Execute display commands in any view.

Task	Command
Display aggregate microsegment configuration.	display microsegment aggregation [ aggregation-id \| name aggregation-name ]
Display microsegment configuration.	display microsegment [ microsegment-id \| name microsegment-name ]

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Microsegmentation configuration examples

Example: Configuring microsegmentation by using a PBR policy node as the GBP in an EVPN network

Network configuration

As shown in Figure 5, configure microsegmentation to meet the following requirements:

· Host A, Host B, and the general server can access the file server.

· Host A and the general server cannot access each other. Host B and the general server cannot access each other.

Figure 5 Network diagram

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Analysis

1. Add Host A and Host B to microsegment 1.

2. Add the general server to microsegment 2, and add the file server to microsegment 3.

3. Configure PBR to allow microsegment 1 and microsegment 3 to communicate, allow microsegment 2 and microsegment 3 to communicate, and prevent microsegment 1 and microsegment 2 from communicating.

Restrictions and guidelines

Microsegments need to be configured only on Device A. BGP will synchronize the microsegment settings to Device D.

Prerequisites

Before configuring microsegmentation, configure EVPN-related settings. (Details not shown.)

Configuring Device A

1. Configure microsegments:

# Create microsegment 1, and add the IP addresses of Host A and Host B as its members.

<DeviceA> system-view

[DeviceA] microsegment 1 name EPG1

[DeviceA-microsegment-1] member ipv4 192.168.1.1 32

[DeviceA-microsegment-1] member ipv4 192.168.2.1 32

[DeviceA-microsegment-1] quit

# Create microsegment 2, and add the IP address of the general server as its member.

[DeviceA] microsegment 2 name EPG2

[DeviceA-microsegment-2] member ipv4 192.168.3.1 32

[DeviceA-microsegment-2] quit

# Create microsegment 3, and add the IP address of the file server as its member.

[DeviceA] microsegment 3 name EPG3

[DeviceA-microsegment-3] member ipv4 192.168.4.1 32

[DeviceA-microsegment-3] quit

# Enable microsegmentation.

[DeviceA] microsegment enable

2. Configure ACLs:

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG1-EPG3, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 1 to microsegment 3.

[DeviceA] acl advanced name EPG1-EPG3

[DeviceA-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG1-EPG3] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 1 destination microsegment 3

[Device-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG1-EPG3] quit

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG1-EPG2, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 1 to microsegment 2.

[DeviceA] acl advanced name EPG1-EPG2

[DeviceA-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG1-EPG2] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 1 destination microsegment 2

[DeviceA-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG1-EPG2] quit

3. Configuring PBR:

# Configure Node 0 for the policy GBP1 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG1-EPG3 to next hop 192.168.4.1. In this way, Host A and Host B in microsegment 1 can access the file server in microsegment 3.

[DeviceA] policy-based-route GBP1 node 0

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-0] if-match acl name EPG1-EPG3

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-0] apply next-hop 192.168.4.1

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-0] quit

# Configure Node 1 for the policy GBP1 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG1-EPG2 through output interface NULL0. In this way, Host A and Host B in microsegment 1 cannot access the general server in microsegment 2.

[DeviceA] policy-based-route GBP1 node 1

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-1] if-match acl name EPG1-EPG2

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-1] apply output-interface null0

[DeviceA-pbr-GBP1-1] quit

# Configure interface PBR by applying the policy GBP1 to VLAN-interface 11.

[DeviceA] interface vlan-interface 11

[DeviceA-Vlan-interface11] ip policy-based-route GBP1

[DeviceA-Vlan-interface11] quit

# Configure interface PBR by applying the policy GBP1 to VLAN-interface 12.

[DeviceA] interface vlan-interface 12

[DeviceA-Vlan-interface12] ip policy-based-route GBP1

[DeviceA-Vlan-interface12] quit

Configuring Device D

1. Configure microsegments:

# Create microsegment 1, and add the IP addresses of Host D and Host B as its members.

<DeviceD> system-view

[DeviceD] microsegment 1 name EPG1

[DeviceD-microsegment-1] member ipv4 192.168.1.1 32

[DeviceD-microsegment-1] member ipv4 192.168.2.1 32

[DeviceD-microsegment-1] quit

# Create microsegment 2, and add the IP address of the general server as its member.

[DeviceD] microsegment 2 name EPG2

[DeviceD-microsegment-2] member ipv4 192.168.3.1 32

[DeviceD-microsegment-2] quit

# Create microsegment 3, and add the IP address of the file server as its member.

[DeviceD] microsegment 3 name EPG3

[DeviceD-microsegment-3] member ipv4 192.168.4.1 32

[DeviceD-microsegment-3] quit

# Enable microsegmentation.

[DeviceD] microsegment enable

2. Configure ACLs:

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG3-EPG1, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 3 to microsegment 1.

<DeviceD> system-view

[DeviceD] acl advanced name EPG3-EPG1

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG3-EPG1] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 3 destination microsegment 1

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG3-EPG1] quit

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG2-EPG1, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 2 to microsegment 1.

[DeviceD] acl advanced name EPG2-EPG1

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG2-EPG1] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 2 destination microsegment 1

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG2-EPG1] quit

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG2-EPG3, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 2 to microsegment 3.

[DeviceD] acl advanced name EPG2-EPG3

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG2-EPG3] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 2 destination microsegment 3

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG2-EPG3] quit

# Create an IPv4 advanced ACL named EPG3-EPG2, configure a rule to match the IP packets from microsegment 3 to microsegment 2.

[DeviceD] acl advanced name EPG3-EPG2

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG3-EPG2] rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 3 destination microsegment 2

[DeviceD-acl-ipv4-adv-EPG3-EPG2] quit

3. Configuring PBR:

# Configure Node 0 for the policy GBP2 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG2-EPG3 to next hop 192.168.4.1. In this way, the general server in microsegment 2 can access the file server in microsegment 3.

[DeviceD] policy-based-route GBP2 node 0

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-0] if-match acl name EPG2-EPG3

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-0] apply next-hop 192.168.4.1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-0] quit

# Configure Node 1 for the policy GBP2 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG2-EPG1 through output interface NULL0. In this way, the general server in microsegment 2 cannot access Host A or Host B in microsegment 1.

[DeviceD] policy-based-route GBP2 node 1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-1] if-match acl name EPG2-EPG1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-1] apply output-interface null0

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP2-1] quit

# Configure Node 0 for the policy GBP3 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG3-EPG1 to next hop 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1. In this way, the file server in microsegment 3 can access Host A and Host B in microsegment 1.

[DeviceD] policy-based-route GBP3 node 0

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-0] if-match acl name EPG3-EPG1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-0] apply next-hop 192.168.1.1 192.168.2.1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-0] quit

# Configure Node 1 for the policy GBP3 to forward the packets matching ACL EPG3-EPG2 to next hop 192.168.3.1. In this way, the file server in microsegment 3 can access the general server in microsegment 2.

[DeviceD] policy-based-route GBP3 node 1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-1] if-match acl name EPG3-EPG2

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-1] apply next-hop 192.168.3.1

[DeviceD-pbr-GBP3-1] quit

# Configure interface PBR by applying the policy GBP2 to VLAN-interface 14.

[DeviceD] interface vlan-interface 14

[DeviceD-Vlan-interface14] ip policy-based-route GBP2

[DeviceD-Vlan-interface14] quit

# Configure interface PBR by applying the policy GBP3 to VLAN-interface 15.

[DeviceD] interface vlan-interface 15

[DeviceD-vlan-interface15] ip policy-based-route GBP3

[DeviceD-vlan-interface15] quit

Verifying the configuration

# Verify that Host A and Host B cannot successfully ping the general server.

C:\> ping 192.168.3.1

Pinging 192.168.3.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out

Ping statistics for 192.168.3.1:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

The output shows that Host A and Host B cannot successfully ping the general server.

# Verify that Host A and Host B can successfully ping the file server.

C:\> ping 192.168.4.1

Pinging 192.168.40.100 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.10.100: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=255

Reply from 192.168.10.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=255

Ping statistics for 192.168.10.100:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms

The output shows that Host A and Host B can successfully ping the file server.

# Display the configuration of each microsegment on Device A.

[DeviceA] display microsegment 1

Microsegment ID : 1

Microsegment name : EPG1

IPv4 member:

192.168.1.1/32

192.168.2.1/32

[DeviceA] display microsegment 2

Microsegment ID : 2

Microsegment name : EPG2

IPv4 member:

192.168.3.1/32

[DeviceA] display microsegment 3

Microsegment ID : 3

Microsegment name : EPG3

IPv4 member:

192.168.4.1/32

# Display summary information about microsegments on Device A.

[DeviceA] display microsegment

Microsegment status: Enabled

Total microsegments: 3

Microsegment list :

Microsegment ID Members Microsegment name

1 2 EPG1

2 1 EPG2

3 1 EPG3

# Display the configuration of ACLs on Device A.

[DeviceA] display acl all

Advanced IPv4 ACL named EPG1-EPG2, 1 rule,

ACL's step is 5, start ID is 0

rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 1 destination microsegment 2

Advanced IPv4 ACL named EPG1-EPG3, 1 rule,

ACL's step is 5, start ID is 0

rule 0 permit ip source microsegment 1 destination microsegment 3

# Display the configuration and statistics of PBR policies for interfaces on Device A.

[DeviceA] display ip policy-based-route interface vlan-interface 11

Policy-based routing information for interface Vlan-interface11:

Policy name: GBP1

node 0 permit:

if-match acl name EPG1-EPG3

apply next-hop 192.168.4.1

Matches: 20, bytes: 20000

node 1 permit:

if-match acl name EPG1-EPG2

apply output-interface NULL0

Matches: 4, bytes: 4000

Total matches: 24, total bytes: 24000

[DeviceA] display ip policy-based-route interface vlan-interface 12

Policy-based routing information for interface Vlan-interface12:

Policy name: GBP1

node 0 permit:

if-match acl name EPG1-EPG3

apply next-hop 192.168.4.1

Matches: 20, bytes: 20000

node 1 permit:

if-match acl name EPG1-EPG2

apply output-interface NULL0

Matches: 4, bytes: 4000

Total matches: 24, total bytes: 24000

# Display the configuration of microsegments, and ACLs, and PBR policies on Device D. (Details not shown.)

09-Security Configuration Guide

Configuring microsegmentation

About microsegmentation

Microsegment

Group-based policy

Configuring a microsegment

Restrictions and guidelines

Procedure

About this task

Procedure

Configuring an ACL

Restrictions and guidelines

Procedure

About this task

Restrictions and guidelines

Procedure

Display and maintenance commands for microsegmentation

Example: Configuring microsegmentation by using a PBR policy node as the GBP in an EVPN network

Network configuration

Analysis

Restrictions and guidelines

Prerequisites

Configuring Device A

Configuring Device D

Verifying the configuration

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