Introduction a MPLS

Msc Henry A. Vásquez

Unit Objectives
• Define basic MPLS Terminology

• Describe the IP/ATM Overlay Model

• Describe the MPLS Label Switching Architectue

•Describe the MPLS Shim Header

• Describe the various MPLS Path Establishment Models

• List the MPLS Label Distribution Protocols

MPLS Origins
• MPLS is a label-switching paradigm being
standardized by the MPLS working group
within the IETF
• MPLS is the outgrowth of a number of
proprietary efforts
- IP Switching (Ipsilon)
- Tag Switching (Cisco)
- ARIS (IBM)
- Cell Switching Router (Toshiba)
- IP Navigator (Ascend)
MPLS Terminology
• LSR - Label Switched Router LDP – Label Distribution
•
• LER - Label Edge Router Protocol
• FEC – Forwarding Equivalence - Runs between LDP peers to
Class form session
- Group of packets that are• LSP - Label Switched Path
treated the same way for - Built from egress to ingress
forwarding purposes to form multipoint-to-point
Ingress MPLS Domain trees (unidirectional)
LER LSP
LER
LSR Egress
LER LER
LDP
LSR LSR
LDP

LER LER
Overlay Model:
IP Access Utilizing ATM Core

ATM Network
Router
Router Switch

Switch Switch IP
Network
Switch

Router
Router
Scalability: Overlay Model
Requires Full Mesh of VCs to
Connect Routers
• Problem: as network grows, # of VCs grows geometrically
(i.e., the n2 problem)
Router
Router ATM Network

Router

Router

Router
Scalability
• Traditional model has routers at the edge, switches at the core
• MPLS model makes all devices routing capable

MPLS Network LER

LER LSR

LSR LSR

LSR

LER LER
Multi Protocol Label Switching

Source
DataGram

DataGram

Destination
MPLS Shim Label

Label Value Exp S TTL

20 Bits 3 Bits 1 Bit 8 Bits

MPLS Encapsulation Strategies
(Frame Mode)
POS
PPP Header Label IP Header Data
Labeling

Ethernet
Ethernet Header Label IP Header Data
Labeling

Frame Relay
Labeling Fr Relay Header Label IP Header Data
(PVC)

ATM
Labeling ATM AAL5 Header Label IP Header Data
(PVC)
MPLS Switching (Cell Mode)

AAL5 MPLS
VPI/VCI

VPI/VCI
AAL5 MPLS
MPLS Service - Performance
Improvement
Label Information Base (LIB)

FEC Label OI IL II OL OI IL II OL OI IL II OL OI
17 2 17 1 56 2 56 1 12 2 12 1 --- ---

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

17 56 12

LER LSR LSR LER

LSP

II In Interface Number IL Input Label

OI Out Interface Number OL Output Label
Performance Improvement - BGP
Elimination

Remote
Remote
AS
AS

A D

C F

B
E

Remote
AS
MPLS Services - Traffic Engineering

Source
A D

C F

B
E

Source Destination
MPLS Services - Virtual Private Networks

Remote
Corportate
Office
Headquarters

A D

C F

B
E

Remote
Office
Label Switched Path Establishment

Source
A D

C F

B
E

Destination
MPLS Label Assignment in Down
Stream Unsolicited Mode

1.1.0.0/16
A D

MAP MAP MAP

C F

B MAP E
MAP
RSVP-Based LSP Setup

Source
PATH PATH PATH
A D

RESV RESV RESV

C F

B
E

• Downstream on demand (DOD) Destination

• Ordered control
CR-LDP-Based LSP Setup

Source
REQ REQ REQ
A D

MAP MAP MAP

C F

B
E

• Downstream on demand (DOD) Destination

• Ordered control
LSP Setup - Independent Control

Source
REQ REQ REQ
A D

MAP MAP
C F

B
E

• Downstream on demand (DOD) Destination

• Independent control
Summary

• MPLS Architecture

•MPLS Terminology

•MPLS Path Establishment

•MPLS Label Distribution Protocols

Henry A. Vasquez