Discussion Assignment Unit 4 In Unit 4, we are introduced to the functionality offered by routers and switches Explain how MPLS VPN’s create tunnels Introduction: According to Marsic (2010), “Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is essentially a mechanism for creating and using special paths, known as “tunnels,” in IP networks”. MPLS is designed to speed up and shape the flows of network. MPLS is a set of protocols rather than a single protocol whose key protocols are Label Distribution Protocol and Link Management Protocol. Connectivity among VPN sites is provided through LSPs (Label Switched Paths) dedicated to a given VPN. An LSP represents a set of MPLS nodes traversed by packets belonging to a specific forwarding equivalency class (FEC). A group of layer-3 …show more content…
VPN services are customarily deployed over IP core networks by configuring MPLS or through L2TPv3 tunnels using point-to-point links. “MPLS supports traffic separation and the creation of virtual private networks (VPNs), virtual private LAN services (VPLS) and virtual leased lines (VLLs)” (Rose, 2015). The VPN is created by configuring a unique Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instance. The tunnel that transports the VPN traffic across the core network resides in its own address space. The label switched paths (LSPs) are pre-determined path that the packet follows and it decides before hands the best way for certain types of traffic to flow within a private or public network. “Service providers can use MPLS to improve quality of service (QoS) by defining LSPs that can meet specific service level agreements (SLAs) on traffic latency, jitter, packet loss and downtime” (Rouse, 2014) . For example, a network might have three service levels: for voice, for time-sensitive traffic and for “best effort” traffic (Rouse, 2014).