What is MPLS?
Multi Protocol Label Switching provides networks with a more efficient way to manage applications and move information between locations. With the convergence of voice, video and data applications, business networks face increasing traffic demands. MPLS enables class of service (CoS) tagging and prioritization of network traffic, so administrators may specify which applications should move across the network ahead of others. This function makes an MPLS network especially important to firms that need to ensure the performance of low-latency applications such as VoIP and their other business-critical functions. MPLS carriers differ on the number of classes of service they offer and in how these CoS tiers are priced.
MPLS or Multi-Protocol Label Switching is an IETF initiative that integrates Layer 2 information about network links (bandwidth, latency, utilization) into Layer 3 (IP) in order to simplify and improve IP-packet exchange. MPLS gives network operators a great deal of flexibility to divert and route traffic around link failures, congestion, and bottlenecks. From a QoS standpoint, network operators will better be able to manage different kinds of data streams based on priority and service plan. For instance, those who subscribe to a premium service plan, or those who receive a lot of streaming media or high-bandwidth content, see minimal latency and packet loss.
MPLS stands for “Multi Protocol Label Switching”. It is a method of forwarding packets at a high rate of speed. It combines the scalability of Layer 2 switching and intelligence of Layer 3 IP routing to form a network with high speed and performance. In a MPLS network, incoming packets are assigned a “label” by a “label edge router (LER)”. Labeling is a simple indexing mechanism that replaces traditional IP packet forwarding, which is based on fast, simple ATM-like switching. At each hop in the network, a router just examines the label to decide the next forwarding hop for the packet. Packets are forwarded along a “label switch path (LSP)” in order to eliminates resource intensive IP address lookups that reduce overall packet throughput and limit scalability.
