MPLS Basis: Optical Network Product Service Department
MPLS Basis: Optical Network Product Service Department
MPLS Basis: Optical Network Product Service Department
MPLS Basis
Optical Network Product Service Department
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Huawei Confidential
Preface
This course is developed on the basis of multi-protocol label switching technology (MPLS). The purpose of this course is to introduce basic knowledge on the MPLS technology and describe actual application of MPLS in MSTP transport network.
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Guidelines
The key point of this course lies in MPLS technical details and working principle. The difficulty of this course lies in the understanding of actual application of MPLS in MSTP transport network.
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References
MPLS principle basis MPLS L2 VPN principle Data board deployment guide
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Objectives
After completing this course, you should be able to: Know the concept and development of MPLS. Understand MPLS technical details and working principle Understand actual application of MPLS in transport network.
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Contents
principle
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MPLS
Multi-Protocol: supports multiple L3 protocols, such as IP, IPv6 and IPX. These protocols are located between L2 and L3, so they are also called L2.5 protocols. Label: is a short, equal-length, processable information content with partial meaning only, topology information excluded. Switching: MPLS packet switching and forwarding are based on labels. For an IP service, when IP packets enter in the MPLS network, the router in the entrance analyzes the contents of the IP packet and chooses proper labels for these IP packets. All nodes in the MPLS network then depend on these simple labels for forwarding. When the IP packets leave the MPLS network, these labels are separated by the edge router on the exit.
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MPLS
Connectionles s-oriented control plane Connectionoriented forward plane
ATM
Connectionoriented control plane Connectionoriented forward plane
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Traditional IP Forwarding
Analyze the IP header and map the header to the next hop Analyze the IP header and map the header to the next hop Analyze the IP header and map the header to the next hop
The IP header is analyzed at every hop, so the efficiency is low. QoS is hard to be deployed and the efficiency is low.
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Connection-oriented with N2 problems Routing depends on the link layer and is based on VPI/VCI or labels. The QoS and real-time services can be ensured.
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R
Router
X
ATM switch
X
MPLS Router
MPLS domain
LSR LER
LER
LSR
LSP
MPLS
LSR LER
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IP
IP
L1
IP
L2
IP
L3
IP
traditional IP forwarding
Label forwarding
traditional IP forwarding
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Advantages of MPLS
The short and fixed-length label replaces the IP header as the forwarding
IP and ATM are better combined. Value-added services are provided without affecting the efficiency.
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MPLS combines flexible connection and expandability of the network layer with reliable transmission and QoS of ATM label forwarding. MPLS supports multiple standard routing protocols, such as BGP and OSPF.
MPLS supports multiple label generation protocols, such as LDP and RSVP. MPLS supports multiple network layer protocols, such as IPv4, IPv6 and IPX. MPLS solves the problem of QoS. MPLS features high performance of label forwarding. LSP is the tunnel of the public network, so MPLS has natural dominance of implementing VPN. MPLS avoids N2 problems of traditional VPN in configuration and management. The control on VPN is implemented on PE, thus facilitating management and expansion. Each VPN forms an independent address; that is, VPNs can reuse their addresses. Control service isolation and interconnection between services of VPN.
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Questions
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Summary
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Contents
Introduction to MPLS MPLS technical details and working principle Actual application of MPLS
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L2 Header
Data
The MPLS packet header consists of 32 bits (four bytes): 20 bits are used as labels. Three bits are Experimental, often used as class of service (CoS), but unspecified in the protocol. One bit is S, used to nest labels and identify whether it is stack bottom or not. In this case, the label can be expanded infinitely. Eight bits are TTL. The MPLS packet header is located in front of the IP header (L3) and behind L2 header. Different encapsulation types determine the location of the MPLS header. The labels (VPI/VCI) of other ATM/FR are a part of the MPLS protocol stack.
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Label Stack
L2 Header
Data
In theory, the label stack can be nested infinitely and thus infinite service support capability can be provided. This is
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2
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FEC: Forwarding Equivalence Class, a set of packets (such as a data packet with the same destination address prefix) with similar or identical characteristics which may be forwarded the same way; that is, they may be bound to the same MPLS label.
LSP: Label Switch Path: an FEC data stream is endowed with specific labels
at different nodes. Data forwarding is performed based on the labels. The path of FEC data stream is LSP.
LSR: Label Switching Router. LSR is the core switch of the MPLS network,
LER: Label Switching Edge Router. On the edge of MPLS network, the traffic in the MPLS network is divided into different FEC by LER and relevant labels are requested for FEC. LER provides the traffic classification,
LSP is a connection-oriented path with source and sink interfaces. LSP is configured with labels. LPS is configured with relevant operations. LSP determines the data output interface.
LSP
Ingres s
LSR
The basic unit of the MPLS network is LSR. A network consisting of LSR is MPLS domain (edge router and core router).
Egress
PE Ingress
P P Egress
PE
Intermediate
Port P (Provider): This port refers to a port accessing the core network of the service provider. The port for Huawei equipment refers to a port accessing data packets encapsulated in MPLS format. Port PE (Provider Edge): This port is an edge port of the service provider and connects to the user equipment. The port here accesses common Ethernet frames. If data packets encapsulated in MPLS format are accessed and no processing on MPLS encapsulation is needed, the port can be configured as PE.
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Structure of LSP
VC VC
Tunnel
Take Martinio encapsulation format as an example. An LSP consists of a Tunnel and VC.Tunnel is a tunnel of the LSP and VC point-to-point connection is performed.
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1. The packets in the network are divided into forwarding equivalence class (FEC) according to the characteristics. The packets featuring the same FEC
pass the same path (LSP) in the MPLS domain. LER assigns a short and
fixed-length label for the FEC packets and then forwards the label from a relevant port.
2. The input/output label mapping table is created on the LSR along the LSP.
For the received label packets, LSR follows the label to find out relevant
NHLFE in the table and replaces the old label with a new one. Then LSR forwards the label by packets.
3. At the exit of the MPLS domain, the label is removed and the standard IP
packet is recovered.
At the network entrance, MPLS assigns FEC featuring special packets and the router can simply forward these packets, compared with regular network layer forwarding. As a result, the forwarding speed is improved.
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LER
LSP
Data A
2
Port 1 Port 2
Data B
P Tunnel VC P Tunnel
LSR
VC P
Port 1
Tunnel 3
Port 2
VC 24
PE 2
1
1
3
3
24
40
2
2
3
3
24
40
Port 3 Port 1 Port 2 Port 1
Data A
VC 24 40
P 1
Tunnel 3 3
VC 24 40
P 2 3
Tunnel 3 3
P 1
Tunnel 3
VC 40
PE
Port 2
Data B
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Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) is specially used to distribute labels in the MPLS protocol. LDP uses information in the route forwarding table to confirm how to forward data. The information in the route forwarding table is collected by using the IGP and BGP protocols. However, LDP does not relate to all kinds of route protocols directly, but indirectly uses the route information.
LDP is not the unique label distribution protocol. Expanding the existing BGP and RSVP protocols can also support label distribution of MPLS.
Applications of MPLS also need expansion of some route protocols. MPLS-based VPN application needs the expansion of the BGP protocol and MPLS-based traffic engineering needs the expansion of OSPF or IS-IS protocol.
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Questions
Q1: Describe the structure of the MPLS packet header and know the range of labels (maximum value). Q2: Describe operations of LSP.
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Summary
MPLS encapsulation format Relevant concepts of MPLS Concept of LSP and setup and forwarding of LSP
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Contents
Introduction to MPLS MPLS technical details and working principle Actual application of MPLS
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Port 1 VLAN 88
VC VC
VCTRUNK
Tunnel
VCTRUNK
VLAN 88
Port 2
MAC
In the preceding figure, the VCTRUNK between two sites forms an LSP. Encapsulate relevant labels (Tunnel+VC) for different Port data to share bandwidth and isolate from each other.
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VB1
VB2 LP
VCTRUNK
VCTRUNK
VB1
VB1 Port 1
Port 2
VC VC
Tunnel
VCTRUNK Port 1 LP VB2 MAC
In the preceding figure, the VCTRUNK between two sites forms an LSP. Encapsulate relevant labels (Tunnel+VC) for different Port data to share bandwidth and isolate from each other.
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Questions
Q1: Describe the application modes of MPLS in optical network transmission equipment. Q2: In actual application of MPLS, how to choose the relevant encapsulation mode?
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Summary
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Thank you
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