VRF

Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) is a network technology that allows multiple independent routing tables to operate on the same physical router or switch. Each VRF instance acts as a separate virtual router, enabling organizations to segment network traffic, support multi-tenancy, and enhance security within shared infrastructures.

VRF is widely used in service provider and enterprise environments to create logically isolated networks for different customers, departments, or applications. By assigning interfaces to different VRFs, administrators can ensure that routing information and traffic remain separate, even when sharing the same hardware.

Key technical features include support for independent routing protocols within each VRF, route leaking for controlled connectivity between VRFs, and integration with technologies like MPLS for scalable Layer 3 VPNs. VRF deployments improve flexibility, simplify compliance, and enable granular control over network segmentation.

While VRF provides robust isolation, careful configuration is required to avoid misrouting and to manage inter-VRF communication securely. Alternatives may include VLANs or dedicated physical infrastructure for environments with simpler segmentation needs.