2013年7月29日 星期一

what is MPLS?

Multiprotocol Label change (MPLS) could be a mechanism in superior telecommunications networks that directs knowledge from one network node to successive supported short path labels instead of long network addresses, avoiding advanced lookups in a very routing table. The labels establish virtual links (paths) between distant nodes instead of endpoints. MPLS will encapsulate packets of varied network protocols. MPLS supports a spread of access technologies, as well as T1/E1, ATM, Frame Relay, and DSL.

MPLS could be a ascendable, protocol-independent protocol. In associate MPLS network, knowledge packets area unit assigned  labels. Packet-forwarding selections area unit created exclusively on the contents of this label, while not the necessity to look at the packet itself. this enables one to make end-to-end circuits across any style of transport medium, exploitation any protocol. the first profit is to eliminate dependence on a specific OSI model electric circuit layer technology, like Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET) or LAN, and eliminate the necessity for multiple layer-2 networks to satisfy differing kinds of traffic. MPLS belongs to the family of packet-switched networks.
MPLS operates at a layer that's usually thought of to lie between ancient definitions of layer a pair of (data link layer) and layer three (network layer), and therefore is commonly mentioned as a "layer a pair of.5" protocol. it absolutely was designed to supply a unified data-carrying service for each circuit-based shoppers and packet-switching shoppers which offer a datagram service model. It will be accustomed carry many alternative forms of traffic, as well as information science packets, similarly as native ATM, SONET, and LAN frames.
A number of various technologies were antecedently deployed with basically identical goals, like Frame Relay and ATM. MPLS technologies have evolved with the strengths and weaknesses of ATM in mind. several network engineers agree that ATM ought to get replaced with a protocol that needs less overhead, whereas providing connection-oriented services for variable-length frames. MPLS is presently commutation a number of these technologies within the marketplace. it's extremely doable that MPLS can fully replace these technologies within the future, therefore orientating these technologies with current and future technology wants.[1]
In explicit, MPLS dispenses with the cell-switching and signaling-protocol baggage of ATM. MPLS acknowledges that little ATM cells aren't required within the core of contemporary networks, since trendy optical networks (as of 2008) area unit therefore quick (at forty Gbit/s and beyond) that even full-length 1500 computer memory unit packets don't incur vital period queuing delays (the ought to cut back such delays — e.g., to support voice traffic — was the motivation for the cell nature of ATM).
At identical time, MPLS tries to preserve the traffic engineering and out-of-band management that created Frame Relay and ATM engaging for deploying large-scale networks.
While the traffic management advantages of migrating to MPLS area unit quite valuable (better responsibleness, exaggerated performance), there's a big loss of visibility and access into the MPLS cloud for IT departments.[2]

Please contact 60763756 Benz Fung (Account Manager in HKBN) if you want to further know more about MPLS.