MPLS and Carrier Networks

MPLS and Carrier Networks

IP packets will be used to carry everything, including phone calls and television. But IP in itself does not include any way to prioritize or manage IP packets, to guarantee call quality or video quality. In the core of a carrier’s network, MPLS is used to implement those functions.


In this module, you’ll learn the basics of carrier networks and the important concept of a Service Level Agreement.


Then you’ll gain a practical understanding of how MPLS works and how it is used by carriers to implement VPNs, different Classes of Service, service integration and traffic aggregation.


Telecom Module 15

Detailed Outline


15 MPLS and Carrier Networks

15.1 Introduction

...... 15.1.1 Overbooking

...... 15.1.2 Congestion, Contention and Packet Loss

...... 15.1.3 Class of Service (CoS)

15.2 Carrier Packet Network Basics

...... 15.2.1 Provider Edge (PE) and Customer Edge (CE)

...... 15.2.2 Access

...... 15.2.3 Advantages of Packet Networks

15.3 Service Level Agreements

...... 15.3.1 Traffic Profile

...... 15.3.2 Contract

...... 15.3.3 Business Decisions

...... 15.3.4 Enforcement: Out of Profile Traffic

...... 15.3.5 Abusive Applications

15.4 Provider Equipment at the Customer Premise

15.5 Virtual Circuit Technologies

...... 15.5.1 IP Routing vsCentralized Control

...... 15.5.2 Traffic Classes

...... 15.5.3 Virtual Circuits

...... 15.5.4 SVCs and PVCs

...... 15.5.5 Ingress Device: Packet Classification

...... 15.5.6 Forwarding Based on Class Number

...... 15.5.7 Differentiated Services

15.6 MPLS

...... 15.6.1 MPLS vsTCP

...... 15.6.2 Forwarding Equivalence Class

...... 15.6.3 Labels and Label Stacking

...... 15.6.4 Label-Switched Path

...... 15.6.5 IP User-Network Interface

...... 15.6.6 Label Edge Routers

...... 15.6.7 Label-Switching Router Operation

15.7 MPLS VPN Service for Business Customers

...... 15.7.1 Private Network Service

...... 15.7.2 Virtual Private Network (VPN)

...... 15.7.3 Internet VPNs

...... 15.7.4 MPLS VPN

15.8 MPLS and Diff-Serv to Support Class of Service

...... 15.8.1 DS Codepoints

...... 15.8.2 Assured Forwarding and Expedited Forwarding

15.9 MPLS for Integrated Access

...... 15.9.1 SIP Trunking, VPN and Internet on One Access

15.10 MPLS for Traffic Aggregation

...... 15.10.1 Label Stacking

15.11 M is for Multiprotocol: Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)