To leverage the benefits of Overlay network topologies, the NSX Bare Metal Edge Node is used as the entry and exit point from the virtual to the physical domain. To achieve independence from the underlying physical network, GENEVE encapsulation is used.
For more details about the NSX Bare Metal Edge and Edge Pod, see the VMware Telco Cloud Reference Architecture Guide 3.0.
From an operational perspective, the NSX Bare Metal Edge can be seen as a black box. The operator can configure services, IP addresses, and other operational aspects, but cannot make changes to hardware configurations such as CPU core allocation. Hence, the hardware used for the NSX Bare Metal Edge is important.
The Edge Pod processes all data traffic, so a high-end server is required for this function. The hardware you choose for Bare Metal Edge must meet the throughput requirements.
