Simplification of layer 2 VPLS control plane

A method for providing a Layer 2 Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) service (VPLS), the method implemented by a Provider Edge (PE) node in a network, the method comprising steps of:

• receiving a packet from a second PE node in the network, wherein the packet includes (1) a Destination Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with a destination Customer Edge (CE) node, (2) a source MAC address associated with a source CE node, and (3) a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Identifier that encodes a global node ID identifying either the second PE node or an Anycast VLAN ID identifying a multihome configuration including the second PE node;
• and
• learning the source MAC address associated with the source CE node as being reachable via the one of the second PE node and the multihome configuration based on decoding the global node ID from the VLAN Identifier.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a Provider Edge (PE) node, wherein the PE node is configured to provide a Layer 2 Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) service (VPLS), wherein the instructions cause the PE node to perform steps of:

• receiving a packet from a second PE node in the network, wherein the packet includes (1) a Destination Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with a destination Customer Edge (CE) node, (2) a source MAC address associated with a source CE node, and (3) a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Identifier that encodes a global node ID identifying either the second PE node or an Anycast VLAN ID identifying a multihome configuration including the second PE node, and
• learning the source MAC address associated with the source CE node as being reachable via the one of the second PE node and the multihome configuration based on decoding the global node ID from the VLAN Identifier.