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Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) : Manoj Wadhwa 18 Oct 2008

This document provides an overview of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). It begins by explaining the need for MPLS to provide faster packet forwarding comparable to Cisco Express Forwarding. The basic concepts of MPLS are then introduced, including how it uses label switching to forward packets based on layer 2 labels rather than long layer 3 lookups. Key MPLS components and terms are defined such as label switch routers, label distribution protocols, forwarding information bases, label switched paths, and virtual routing and forwarding. MPLS applications including MPLS VPNs are also discussed.

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Bon Tran Hong
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152 views52 pages

Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) : Manoj Wadhwa 18 Oct 2008

This document provides an overview of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). It begins by explaining the need for MPLS to provide faster packet forwarding comparable to Cisco Express Forwarding. The basic concepts of MPLS are then introduced, including how it uses label switching to forward packets based on layer 2 labels rather than long layer 3 lookups. Key MPLS components and terms are defined such as label switch routers, label distribution protocols, forwarding information bases, label switched paths, and virtual routing and forwarding. MPLS applications including MPLS VPNs are also discussed.

Uploaded by

Bon Tran Hong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Multi Protocol Label Switching

(MPLS)
Manoj Wadhwa
18th Oct 2008

Agenda

Why we need MPLS


MPLS Concepts
Label Assignment & Distribution
Frame Mode MPLS concepts & implementation
MPLS monitoring
MPLS VPNs

How routers forward packets

How routers forward packets

Process Switching :- Traditional method of forwarding


packets. Full lookup of every packet. No longer used now.
Each & every packet is processed by the router processor.
Hence it is very slow.
Fast Switching :- Used until 2003-2004. First packet is
process switched after which information is moved in the
cache. Subsequent packets doesnt lookup the routing
table resulting in faster forwarding of packets. It had
limitations like per packet load sharing was not supported.

How routers forward packets

Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) :- Eliminates 1st packet


issue of fast switching. It pre-builds the cache. It creates
FIB (Forward Information Base) and Adjacency table which
premaps the next hop ip address & next hop Mac address.
It supports per packet load sharing. However it had
drawbacks like it requires more memory and is Cisco
proprietary

Traditional IP forwarding

Traditional IP forwarding is based on : Routing protocols used to distribute layer 3 routing


information
Forwarding based on the destination address only
Routing lookups performed on every hop

Why we need MPLS

If you want CEF style speed going through a ISP network


which has non-Cisco routers, thats where MPLS comes
into picture. It allows routers to have extremely fast layer 2
style forwarding on non-Cisco equipment. So MPLS is
basically like an added feature in a router that allows it to
go much faster than typical routing protocols would. It
allows all of the forwarding to happen at Layer 2.
Essentially the router becomes as fast as a switch.

What is MPLS

Industry standard mechanism


Forwarding decisions based on layer 2 labels
Labels can correspond to :

Destination network
Source address
Quality of Service (QoS)
Outgoing interface
Other Layer 2 info like FR DLCI etc

MPLS was designed to support forwarding of other


protocols as well

Basic MPLS concepts

MPLS example

MPLS components

MPLS has two major components


Control plane
Where Layer 3 routing protocols exists (OSPF, EIGRP etc)
Where label exchange protocols exists (TDP, LDP etc)

Data plane
Also known as forwarding plane
Sends data based on L3 or L2 information
Takes care of label swapping

MPLS Architecture

MPLS Labels

MPLS Technology is intended to be used anywhere


regardless of Layer 1 media and Layer 2 protocol
MPLS uses a 32-bit label field that is inserted between
Layer 2 and Layer 3 headers (frame mode)
MPLS over ATM uses the ATM header (VPI/ VCI field) as
the label (Cell-mode)
Labels have local significance
Label allocations are asynchronous

MPLS Label format

MPLS Label format

MPLS Label Stack

Common MPLS Terms

Label Switch Router (LSR)


Edge LSR
Control Plane
Data Plane
Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)
Forwarding Information Base (FIB)
Label Information Base (LIB)
Label Forwarding Information Base (LFIB)
Label Switched Path (LSP)

Common MPLS Terms

LIB :- The LIB functions in the control plane and is used by


the LDP where IP destination network in the routing table
are mapped to the next hop labels that are received from
downstream routers as well as local labels generated by
the LDP
LFIB :- The LFIB resides in the data plane & contains a
local label to next hop label mapping along with outgoing
interface which is used to forward labeled packed.
LSP :- LSP is a sequence of LSRs that forward labeled
packets

Common MPLS Terms

Information about reachability to destination networks from


routing protocols is used to populate the routing table. The
routing table in turn provides information for the FIB. The
LIB is populated using information from LDP and from LIB
along with FIB, LFIB is populated.

LSR Architecture

Edge LSR Architecture

MPLS Process

Routers build the routing table


The MPLS enabled routers assign labels to each route
The routers advertise their labels to other LSRs
All LSRs build their FIB, LIB and LFIB
Note :- MPLS is almost like running a second protocol on top
of everything. Now we have an extra routing protocol thats
sending labels which has effectively brought routing to a
layer 2 label process making router almost as efficient as a
switch when they are sending the data

MPLS Process

MPLS Process

Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP)

MPLS performance is optimized by the use of PHP

Loop Prevention

Normal TTL propagation

Disabling TTL propagation

Traceroute with TTL disabled

Impact of disabling TTL propagation

LDP Session establishment

MPLS Frame mode configuration

Below are the steps to enable Frame mode MPLS


Activating IP CEF
Enabling interfaces for MPLS
Turning on the LDP
Increasing the MTU
Verification

Configuring MPLS

Configuring MPLS

Configuring IP TTL Propagation

IP TTL propagation

IP TTL propagation

With TTL propagation disabled, the trace command


displays only the ingress provider router (and sometimes
the egress provider router).

IP TTL propagation

IP TTL propagation

Selective IP TTL propagation hides the provider network


from the customer but still allows troubleshooting

MPLS monitoring commands

MPLS monitoring commands

MPLS monitoring commands

Understanding MPLS VPN

Drawbacks of traditional VPNs

Overlay VPN :- Costly if full mesh connectivity is required


Peer-Peer VPN :- Client relies on service provider for routing.
SP runs the challenge of IP addresses.

MPLS VPNs

MPLS VPNs

MPLS VPNs use the concept of VRF (Virtual Routing &


Forwarding)
With MPLS VPNs, you can have overlapping private
addressing because VRFs make them appear as a
different routing table altogether.

New MPLS VPN Terms

Closer look at the provider network

MPLS VPN VRF Configuration


VRF Configuration tasks:

Create VRF
Assign Route Distinguisher to the VRF
Specify export and import Route Targets
Assign interfaces to VRFs

Configuration on PE
ip vrf Cust_aaa
rd 100:10
route-target export 100:10
route-target import 100:10
!
ip vrf Cust_bbb
rd 100:20
route-target export 100:20
route-target import 100:20
!
interface serial 0/0
ip vrf forwarding Cust_aaa
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.252
!
interface serial 0/1
ip vrf forwarding Cust_bbb
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.252

vrf Cust_aaa
rd 100:10

10.1.0.0/24
Cust_aaa

CE

S0/0

PE
10.1.0.0/24
Cust_bbb

S0/1

CE
vrf Cust_bbb
rd 100:20

MPLS Applications

MPLS is already used in many different applications


Unicast IP routing
Multicast IP routing
MPLS TE
QoS
MPLS VPNs
AToM (Any Transport over MPLS)

Platforms that support MPLS

The Cisco Series 2691, 3640, 3660, 3725, 3745, 6400NRP-1, 6400-NRP-2SV, 6400-NSP, Catalyst 5000 with
Route Switch Module (RSM), 7200, 7301, 7400, 7500,
Catalyst 6500/Cisco 7600 Series with WS-SUP720-3B and
WS-SUP720-3BXL, Gigabit Switch Router (GSR), Route
Processor Module (RPM), Universal Broadband Router
(UBR) 7200, AS5350, and IGX8400-URM all support
MPLS.

Thank You

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