Which protocol is responsible for data plane forwarding in a Cisco SD-Access deployment?

Question

Options

• AVXLAN
• BIS-IS
• COSPF
• DLISP

• A
  93% (26)
• B
  4% (1)
• C
  4% (1)

Explanation

SD-Access Data Plane Forwarding Protocol

VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) is used as the data plane encapsulation protocol in Cisco SD-Access because it tunnels Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic across the underlay network fabric, enabling the overlay to carry user traffic between fabric nodes. Think of VXLAN as the "truck" that physically moves the data packets across the SD-Access fabric.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• LISP (D) is actually used in SD-Access, but for the control plane - it handles endpoint registration and location/identity mapping, not the actual forwarding of data
• IS-IS (B) is a routing protocol used in the underlay network to provide reachability between fabric nodes, not data plane encapsulation
• OSPF (C) is similarly an underlay routing protocol option and plays no direct role in SD-Access overlay data forwarding

Memory Tip: Use the phrase "LISP Controls, VXLAN Carries" - LISP manages the control plane (where things are), while VXLAN carries the actual data. If a question asks about SD-Access forwarding/data plane, always think VXLAN. If it asks about mapping/control plane, think LISP.

No community discussion yet for this question.