MPLS Services

Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has emerged as a key convergence technology, enabling network providers to offer a broad array of services over geographically dispersed environments with the benefits of QoS, Traffic Engineering, and 50 msec recovery. MPLS support on the LE-311v enables multiple services to be delivered over a single converged Carrier Ethernet infrastructure with high performance, high availability, and flexible bandwidth guarantees.

Figure — Ethernet to MPLS Flexible Service Transition

The LE-311v MPLS feature set supports the provisioning of MPLS Pseudowires (VPWS – Virtual Private Wire Services) and MPLS/VPLS Hierarchical Virtual Private LAN Services (H-VPLS), extending the functionality and scalability of MPLS Core networks directly to subscribers.

The LE-311v MPLS/VPLS implementation delivers several important capabilities:

• LE-311v MPLS Pseudowires support E-LINE Ethernet Virtual Circuits which can connect to remote locations across an MPLS core network.
• LE-311v H-VPLS service supports revenue-generating Transparent LAN services across a wide geographic area.
• Ethernet VLANs and E-Lines can be tunneled through MPLS pseudowires, providing a L2 VPN service capability that spans the entire MPLS Metro and core network.
• Ethernet VLANs, Ethernet Virtual Private Lines, MPLS Pseudowires, and VPLS services can be offered on a single LE-311v system. This service flexibility provides investment protection and enables the network operator to minimize operational expenses while still delivering the scalability, converged services, and high performance of MPLS.
• MPLS Tunnels and VCs (pseudowires) encapsulate subscriber MAC addresses, enabling thousands of end-users to be supported by LE-311v systems.

LE-311v MPLS Operational and Resiliency Features

The LE-311v supports static or dynamic configuration of MPLS-based L2VPNs. Dynamic configuration of MPLS virtual circuits (VCs) is accomplished by using Label Distribution Protocol (LDP). MPLS Tunnels (Label Switch Paths) are dynamically configured using Resource ReSerVation Protocol Traffic Extensions (RSVP-TE).

The LE-311v supports advanced MPLS resiliency to deliver both system and network high availability. MPLS resiliency features include:

• Label Switch Path (LSP) Ping/Traceroute
  Improving MPLS diagnostic and troubleshooting, LSP Ping/Traceroute support in the LE-311v enables verification of LSP connectivity and hop-by-hop path tracing to identify fault location. These important Operation, Administration and Management (OAM) tools enable the network operator to quickly identify and locate problems in the MPLS Label Switch Path.
• MPLS Tunnel Protection, Primary and Backup
  Primary and Backup Tunnel Protection in MPLS enable the LE-311v to dynamically or statically create primary tunnels as well as backup tunnels to maintain traffic flow in the event of a network link or node failure. When a failure along the primary tunnel path occurs, the edge LE-311v detects the failure via RSVP and switches the subscriber traffic to the backup path. Dynamic or static creation of the backup tunnel delivers an effective alternative to MPLS Fast Reroute to protect the primary LSP tunnel.
• MPLS Tunnel Protection with RSVP-TE Fast Reroute
  MPLS automatically maintains the Label Switch Path once it has been established using the Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP). However, under link or node failure conditions, it is possible that LSPs cannot recover fast enough to maintain a reliable connection. RSVP-TE (Traffic Extension, RFC 3209) Fast Reroute implemented in the LE-311v protects the LSP by enabling dynamic, local rerouting of traffic around the failure, whether the failure is in the link or in a node in the LSP. This protection enables traffic to continue to flow while a new LSP is being established.

The LE-311v MPLS/Hierarchical VPLS feature set supports the interworking of Customer and Provider VLANs with VPLS VPNs on Carrier Ethernet Access and aggregation networks. It enables network operators to deploy H-VPLS VPN services to targeted customers while maintaining Ethernet VLAN and VPN services on the same network. Network flexibility is further enhanced by LE-311v support for MPLS Pseudowires, which enables the network to deliver Ethernet Private Line and Ethernet Virtual Private Line (E-LINE) services. All of these service types can be provisioned on a single LE-311V for maximum flexibility and investment protection.

Continue

• Introduction
• Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB-TE)
• MPLS Services
• Proven LE-OS Operating System
• Carrier Class QoS
• Reliability and Resiliency
• Advanced Security
• Carrier Class OAM

PDS-0003-001 Rev B.1