In cloud networking, overlay networks are used to create virtualized networks that abstract the underlying physical infrastructure. To supportmultipath capabilities, certain protocols provide efficient tunneling mechanisms. Let’s analyze each option:

A. MPLSoGRE

Incorrect:MPLS over GRE (MPLSoGRE) is a tunneling protocol that encapsulates MPLS packets within GRE tunnels. While it supports MPLS traffic, it does not inherently provide multipath capabilities.

B. VXLAN

Correct:VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) is an overlay protocol that encapsulates Layer 2 Ethernet frames within UDP packets. It supports multipath capabilities by leveraging the Equal-Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) routing in the underlay network. VXLAN is widely used in cloud environments for extending Layer 2 networks across data centers.

C. VPN

Incorrect:Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are used to securely connect remote networks or users over public networks. They do not inherently provide multipath capabilities or overlay tunneling for virtual networks.

D. MPLSoUDP

Correct:MPLS over UDP (MPLSoUDP) is a tunneling protocol that encapsulates MPLS packets within UDP packets. Like VXLAN, it supports multipath capabilities by utilizing ECMP in the underlay network. MPLSoUDP is often used in service provider environments for scalable and flexible network architectures.

Why These Protocols?

VXLAN:Provides Layer 2 extension and supports multipath forwarding, making it ideal for large-scale cloud deployments.

MPLSoUDP:Combines the benefits of MPLS with UDP encapsulation, enabling efficient multipath routing in overlay networks.

JNCIA Cloud References:

The JNCIA-Cloud certification covers overlay networking protocols like VXLAN and MPLSoUDP as part of its curriculum on cloud architectures. Understanding these protocols is essential for designing scalable and resilient virtual networks.

For example, Juniper Contrail uses VXLAN to extend virtual networks across distributed environments, ensuring seamless communication and high availability.