Designated forwarder election for multi-homed data center interconnect using multicast routing protocol state information

Abstract

Techniques are described for supporting designated forwarder election for a multi-homed Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN) data center interconnect (DCI) between multiple data centers by leveraging and utilizing adjacency state information learned from a multicast routing protocol that controls multicast distribution within an underlying transport network of a local data center. For example, a set or routers operating to provide a multi-homed EVPN DCI may utilize adjacency state information learned from a Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) executing within the underlying transport network of a multi-homed data center to facilitate selection of a designated forwarder for the EVPN between the data centers. By leveraging adjacency state information, an enhanced DF election may be automatically performed for the EVPN to facilitate selection of a designated forwarder in a manner that may avoid loss of traffic in situations where a topology event in the underlying transport network of the data center.