BFD Profile

Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) provides a general-purpose, standard, medium- and protocol-independent fast failure detection mechanism. It can detect and monitor the connectivity of links in IP network to detect communication failures quickly. BFD operates independently of media, data protocols, and routing protocols. It establishes a session between two network devices to detect failures on the bidirectional forwarding paths between the devices and provide services for upper-layer protocols.

BFD also includes an echo function. When echo is enabled, an operating device periodically sends BFD echo packets. The peer device returns the received BFD echo packets back without processing them (it loops them through its forwarding path). If the sending device does not receive BFD echo packets from the peer within a specified interval, the session is considered down. Since the echo function is handling the task of detection, the rate of periodic transmission of control packets may be reduced in asynchronous mode, and eliminated in demand mode.

Creating a BFD Profile

To create a BFD profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. In the left navigation menu, select one of the following options:

    • Library—This is the default selection. If you create profiles in the Library, then you must assign scope and device functions to the profiles. For more information, see Assigning Scope to a BFD Profile.

    • Global—If you create profiles at the Global level, then the profiles have Global scope assigned by default.

    • Site Collections—If you create profiles at the Site Collections level, then the profiles have site collection scope assigned by default.

    • Sites—If you create profiles at the Site level, then the profiles have site scope assigned by default.

    • Devices—If you create profiles at the Device level, then the profiles have device scope assigned by default.

    • Device Groups—If you create profiles at the Device Group level, then the profiles have device group scope assigned by default.

    Note:

    • To create profiles at the Global level, select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list before step 4.
    • To create profiles at the Site Collections, Sites, Devices, and Device Group level, complete the following steps before step 4:
      1. Select Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group in the left navigation menu.
      2. Select a Site Collection, Site, Device, or Device Group from the list view depending on the level where you are creating the profile.
      3. Select the device type from the Device Function drop-down list.

  3. On the Routing & Overlays card, click BFD.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Routing & Overlays card, click Manage.

    2. On the BFD card, click Manage.

    The BFD list view is displayed.

  4. Click Create Profile.
    The Create Profile side panel is displayed.

  5. Enter the VRF profile parameters:

    • Create as a local profile—Select this checkbox if you want to configure this profile as local.

      Note:

      The Create as a local profile checkbox is available at the Global, Site Collections, Sites, Devices, and Device Groups levels. It is not available at the Library level.

    • Name—Enter the name of the BFD profile.

    • Description—Enter the description for the BFD profile.

    • BFD Enable—Use this checkbox to enable or disable BFD. The BFD is enabled by default.

  6. Select the Advanced Parameters checkbox if you want to configure the following advanced BFD parameters:

    • Detection Multiplier—Specify the BFD detection multiplier. Range: 1 to 5. Default: 5.

      Minimum Transmit Interval—Specify the minimum time interval between transmitted BFD control packets on an interface. Range: 500 to 20000 (For 6300, 6400, 8360, and 8400 switch series) and 50 to 20000 (For 8320 and 8325 switch series). Default: 3000.

    • Minimum Receive Interval—Specify the minimum time interval between received BFD control packets on an interface. .Range: 500 to 20000 (For 6300, 6400, 8360, and 8400 switch series) and 50 to 20000 (For 8320 and 8325 switch series). Default: 3000.

    • Echo—Enable or Disable support for BFD echo packets using the checkbox. Echo packet support is enabled by default. In Echo mode, an operating device periodically sends BFD echo packets. The peer device returns the received BFD echo packets back without processing them. If the sending device does not receive BFD echo packet from the peer within the specified interval, the session is considered down.

    • Echo Receive Interval—Specify the minimum reception interval in milliseconds. A value of 0 means that the switch does not support reception of BFD echo packets. Range: 0, 50 to 1000. Default: 500.

    • Use Alias—Select this check box to use an Echo source IP alias.

    • Echo Source IP Address—Specify the source IPv4 address for BFD echo packets. This address is used in all echo sessions. If you have selected Use Alias, select the Echo Source IP alias from the drop-down list. To create a New Alias, see Creating an Alias.

  7. Click Create.

  8. To delete a profile, hover on the profile name, and click the delete icon.

  9. To search for a profile, type the profile name in the search bar. The search bar displays dynamic results as soon as you start typing.

Assigning Scope to a BFD Profile

You must assign a scope and device function to a BFD profile created in the Library.

To assign scope to a profile, complete the following steps:

  1. In the HPE Aruba Networking Central landing page, click the configurationicon.
    The Profiles tab is displayed.

  2. Ensure that the default option Library is selected in the left navigation menu.

  3. On the Routing & Overlays card, click BFD.
    Alternatively, you can complete the following steps:

    1. On the Routing & Overlays card, click Manage.

    2. On the BFD card, click Manage.

    The BFD list view is displayed.

  4. Hover on the profile to which you want to assign a scope and click the ellipsis icon.

  5. Select Assign.

    The Assign Profile side panel is displayed.

  6. Select the device types from Device Function list.

  7. To add a scope, click the Add icon on the Scopes table.

  8. Select a scope from the following Scope Level options in the drop-down list.

    • Global—Selecting this option assigns the scope at the Global level.

    • Site Collections—Select the site collections from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Sites—Select the sites from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Device Groups—Select the device groups from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

    • Devices—Select the devices from the Assign to Scope drop-down list.

  9. Click Add.

    The Scopes table displays the newly added scopes.

  10. Click Assign.

    The BFD list displays the device functions and number of scopes assigned to the profile.

  11. To unassign a scope from a profile, complete the following steps:

    1. Hover on the profile name and click the Ellipsis icon.

    2. Select Unassign.

    3. Select the required scope and click Unassign.

  12. To customize the BFD profile list, click the Customize Columns icon .