Thursday, September 11, 2014

MPLS overview

MPLS is (virtually) fully mesh VPN network.
Also named as MPLS cloud/ IPVPN. (AT&T called it AVPN)
Mainly use for business network within a city/country (within a same service provider, mostly).


Business use case:

  • coffee shops to connect all the branches for data network.
    • example
    • Point of sale connect to database servers
    • Credit Card terminal connecting to bank's database for billing purposes
  • Most of the retailer and organization using service provider based MPLS.
    • LOW impact on customer network (end users may not notice their network is attach to MPLS network for connectivity).
    • customer always refer to VPN number and circuit number
    • subscription based / bill monthly / per link
    • Lower cost of ownership
  • Some sensitive business organization builds their own MPLS network.
    • example, Banks
    • The reasons to build own MPLS network is highly concern security over shared resources and manageability. 
    • required more skilled workers/resources to maintain/operate the network.


Technology overview

  • most of the time, MPLS refer to service provider network.
  • using both Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies, hence sometimes know as Layer 2.5
  • multiple network devices is used.
  • multiple routing protocols involved.
  • both ipv4 & ipv6 are supported.
  • BGP/OSPF/EIGRP/VRF/route redistribution/ PBR/ prefix-list are heavily involved.
  • route leaking/TE/QoS/multicast are good to know for advanced level.


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