Introduction
Initially, the design
goal for MPLS was to provide a label switching technology
which gave the performance of layer 2 switching yet did so
based on layer 3 information. While MPLS does achieve this
goal, it is no longer viewed as the main benefit to be gained
from MPLS. Other key benefits of MPLS include the simplicity
with which Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) may be implemented
as well as the ability to perform traffic engineering, where
the path through which user data traverses a network may be
dictated in one of many ways.
This course looks at
the subject of MPLS, what it is all about, how it works as
well as looking at some of the applications to which MPLS
is used.
Course
Agenda
The following is an
outline of the sections included in the course:
- MPLS:
The need for a new solution
- Label
Distribution and signalling
- Frame
Relay, ATM and MPLS
- MPLS
Traffic Engineering
- Supporting
Differentiated Services (Diff-Serv) with MPLS
- Virtual
Private Networks (VPNs)
- Voice
over MPLS
- Introduction
to Optical Networks and MPLS
Course
Length
Two days.
Course
Section Descriptions
1
MPLS: The need for a new solution
- What is MPLS?
- Challenges for new
IP centric networks
- Limitations of traditional
IP networking
- Achieving QoS
- Understanding the
fundamentals
- Basic MPLS operation
- MPLS Terminology
- Forwarding Equivalence
Class
- Label encoding,
distribution and binding
- Traffic Engineering:
The need for Constrained and Explicit Routes
- Proprietary approaches
to MPLS
- IP Switching (Nokia),
IP Navigator (Lucent), Tag Switching (Cisco)
2
Label Distribution and signalling
- Routing of LSPs
- Label distribution
methods
- RSVP as a label
distribution protocol
- Understanding RSVP
- MPLS extensions
to RSVP
- Label distribution
and binding with RSVP
- The Label Distribution
Protocol (LDP) and CR-LDP
- LDP operation
- Label Retention
modes
- Comparison of RSVP
and LDP
3
Frame Relay, ATM and MPLS
- Frame Relay and
MPLS
- Frame Relay Essentials
- Frame Relay Switches
as Label Switched Routers
- Label encoding for
Frame Relay
- Frame Relay specifics
- Label Ranges and
processing
- Label Distribution
- Time to Live
- Hybrid Switches
- Multipoint and VC
merging
- ATM and MPLS
- ATM Essentials
- ATM switches as
Label Switched Routers
- Label encoding for
ATM
- ATM specifics
- Label Ranges and
processing
- Direct Connections
- VP and VC Tunnels
- Time to Live
- Multipoint and VC
merging
- Mapping to ATM QoS
- "Ships in the
night"
4
MPLS Traffic Engineering
- LSP Path determination
- Offline "Helicopter
view"
- Explicit routes
and constraint based routing
- Fast Re-routing:
Taking account of Network Failures
- MPLS deployment
"Edge or Core"
- ATM and Traffic
Engineering
5
Supporting Differentiated Services (Diff-Serv) with MPLS
- Understanding the
Diff-Serv model
- The aim of Diff-Serv
- How Diff-Serv works
- Classification
- The DS codepoint
- Behaviour Aggregates
- Mapping Diffserv
onto MPLS
- Using the MPLS shim
header
- Other cases e.g.
Frame Relay and ATM
- Requirements for
Label Distribution
6
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
- VPNs: Definitions
and Realisation
- Customer and Service
Provider Tunnels
- Using MPLS to support
VPNs: Different approaches
- The overlay model
and RFC 2547
- How does the overlay
model work?
- Advantages and disadvantages
of the overlay approach
- The virtual router
(VR) model
- How does the VR
model differ from the overlay approach?
- Advantages and disadvantages
of the VR approach
- Summary of MPLS
enabled VPNs
7
Voice over MPLS
- Implementing a voice
service over MPLS
- Reference Model
- Call Quality and
QoS
- MPLS network requirements
8
Introduction to Optical Networks and MPLS
- Overlay and Integrated
Networks
- Wavelength Division
Multiplexing
- Add/Drop multiplexers
- Optical Cross-Connects
- MPLS and Lambda
Switching
- Requirements for
Label Distribution in Optical Networks
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