With the continued development of global network facilities, a large portion of the networking community has recently shifted to the adoption of multi-protocol marker switching (MPLS), which provides an attractive opportunity to simplify virtual private network (VPN) links, enable service convergence and traffic engineering, while minimizing the complexity and overhead associated with earlier approaches.
The role of MPLS
In the early 1990s, most of the Internet was built with ATM switches that provided a layer 2 connection between surrounding low-speed routers. However, it turns out that mapping IP services to ATM networks has many problems in terms of complexity and expansion capabilities. These problems require the definition of protocols to enable ATM switches to work in the third layer, and thus develop faster and more economical routers, and MPLS came into being.
The initial driving factor for developing the MPLS protocol is entirely focused on improving performance, and the developers expect that performance improvements can be achieved by explicitly separating the forwarding control function (included in the tag) from the payload data, and then leveraging the second exchange speed in the third layer. However, the rise of new generations of ultra-high-speed Layer 2/Layer 3 switches/router systems based on ASIC, such as Extreme Networks' Black Diamond series, has surpassed the speed advantages of traditional Layer 2 switching systems, eliminating the focus of MPLS solving speed problems. But as a technology to implement new routing capabilities, the MPLS protocol is still very important. MPLS can implement or enhance VPN, traffic engineering, fast detour routing and QoS. In addition, it can add new features without having to change the tag switch forwarding mode (i.e. no hardware upgrade is required). In a sense, MPLS can be viewed as a new and improved ATM, as it is often positioned as a unified technology that can support a wide range of services through a network facility.
With MPLS, enhanced traffic engineering can also be implemented, and load balancing can be achieved using MPLS traffic engineering capabilities. These relatively concise traffic engineering applications provide the most attractive opportunities to leverage MPLS, enable service providers and enterprises to improve overall network management, and better utilize available bandwidth.
Intelligent deployment of MPLS technology can significantly enhance the performance of packet networks. It can provide a relatively simple mechanism to slowly instill more deterministic flow control and flexibly create dedicated virtual circuits. In fact, by combining flexible, ubiquitous packet IP networks with the advantages of traditional telecommunications circuit networks, MPLS is helping to lay the foundation for the next generation of networks.
MPLS comes from the WAN
The main driving factor for MPLS is the complexity of the wide-area backbone network, and until recently, the main focus of MPLS evolution has been on the implementation of marker switching as a WAN technology. However, as MPLS shifts to the metropolitan area network environment, the overall situation is very different from that of the wide area network, thus requiring different focus to maximize the advantages provided by MPLS.
Although MPLS helps overcome the complexity in WAN, trying a fully mature MPLS implementation solution in metropolitan area networks is actually very complex because it will inevitably contrast with the performance and flexibility advantages that line-speed layer 2/layer 3 switching router systems have been implemented. To efficiently shift MPLS to the metropolitan area network environment, it is necessary to focus on utilizing mark switching technology and improving existing high-speed switching router systems to add necessary functions without adding unnecessary complex layers.
The two main applications of metropolitan area networks are transparent LAN services (TLS) and Internet connection. As Ethernet becomes an emerging metropolitan area network technology, simple VLAN mechanisms used in LANs are being expanded to support TLS and VPN requirements for metropolitan areas. Extreme Networks has adopted the inherent Ethernet mechanisms, such as 802.1Q marking and 802.1Q tunneling and the ability to handle Layer 2 TLS services and Layer 3 routing Internet services on the same physical network, and has deployed various metropolitan area network TLS and point-to-multipoint VPN and Internet connection services. If you look at Ethernet in depth, we will find that most of the solutions MPLS is trying to implement already exist in the Ethernet layer 2/Layer 3 environment.
Extreme Networks' MPLS solution
As an active participant in the MPLS forum and IETF and the earliest developer of advanced multi-layer IP switch/router solutions, Extreme Networks is currently at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge viable MPLS solutions. The basic components of the Extreme Networks MPLS plan include: 1. Create a highly scalable, economical MPLS hardware structure to support MPLS
Extreme Network's approach to providing MPLS solutions starts with flexible modular hardware solutions that allow customers to smoothly move to deploy robust MPLS capabilities while leveraging existing equipment investments and existing network structures.
Provide a rich and flexible programming environment for managing MPLS functions
Extreme's switches not only take advantage of the flexibility of the modular MPLS hardware structure, but also have a rich software environment that can efficiently provide LER and LSR functions on all ports. The MPLS function can be enabled or turned off on each VLAN. In addition, Extreme's proven virtual metropolitan area network (VMAN) function can be used to efficiently assemble multiple MPLS-based layer-second VLANs.
As a leader in developing advanced IP switch/router solutions that enable service providers and enterprises to optimize the metro and LAN environment, Extreme Networks has always focused on implementing early MPLS products, providing flexible and robust solutions for implementing VPNs and developing basic traffic engineering capabilities. Expansion, configuration and economics have always been the main goals of the early MPLS products provided by Black Diamond structures
But at the same time, these Extreme Networks early MPLS solutions are designed specifically to provide a solid foundation and scalable structure for scaling and enhancing MPLS capabilities as market requirements and MPLS standard state continue to evolve. By creating modular, incrementally deployable MPLS solutions directly to applications that can achieve maximum return on investment immediately, Extreme is continuing to work on delivering real results. Additionally, by continuing to play a key leadership role in the MPLS forums, IETFs and other standards organizations, Extreme Networks is helping to define and expand opportunities to achieve more MPLS advantages in the future.
The role of MPLS
In the early 1990s, most of the Internet was built with ATM switches that provided a layer 2 connection between surrounding low-speed routers. However, it turns out that mapping IP services to ATM networks has many problems in terms of complexity and expansion capabilities. These problems require the definition of protocols to enable ATM switches to work in the third layer, and thus develop faster and more economical routers, and MPLS came into being.
The initial driving factor for developing the MPLS protocol is entirely focused on improving performance, and the developers expect that performance improvements can be achieved by explicitly separating the forwarding control function (included in the tag) from the payload data, and then leveraging the second exchange speed in the third layer. However, the rise of new generations of ultra-high-speed Layer 2/Layer 3 switches/router systems based on ASIC, such as Extreme Networks' Black Diamond series, has surpassed the speed advantages of traditional Layer 2 switching systems, eliminating the focus of MPLS solving speed problems. But as a technology to implement new routing capabilities, the MPLS protocol is still very important. MPLS can implement or enhance VPN, traffic engineering, fast detour routing and QoS. In addition, it can add new features without having to change the tag switch forwarding mode (i.e. no hardware upgrade is required). In a sense, MPLS can be viewed as a new and improved ATM, as it is often positioned as a unified technology that can support a wide range of services through a network facility.
With MPLS, enhanced traffic engineering can also be implemented, and load balancing can be achieved using MPLS traffic engineering capabilities. These relatively concise traffic engineering applications provide the most attractive opportunities to leverage MPLS, enable service providers and enterprises to improve overall network management, and better utilize available bandwidth.
Intelligent deployment of MPLS technology can significantly enhance the performance of packet networks. It can provide a relatively simple mechanism to slowly instill more deterministic flow control and flexibly create dedicated virtual circuits. In fact, by combining flexible, ubiquitous packet IP networks with the advantages of traditional telecommunications circuit networks, MPLS is helping to lay the foundation for the next generation of networks.
MPLS comes from the WAN
The main driving factor for MPLS is the complexity of the wide-area backbone network, and until recently, the main focus of MPLS evolution has been on the implementation of marker switching as a WAN technology. However, as MPLS shifts to the metropolitan area network environment, the overall situation is very different from that of the wide area network, thus requiring different focus to maximize the advantages provided by MPLS.
Although MPLS helps overcome the complexity in WAN, trying a fully mature MPLS implementation solution in metropolitan area networks is actually very complex because it will inevitably contrast with the performance and flexibility advantages that line-speed layer 2/layer 3 switching router systems have been implemented. To efficiently shift MPLS to the metropolitan area network environment, it is necessary to focus on utilizing mark switching technology and improving existing high-speed switching router systems to add necessary functions without adding unnecessary complex layers.
The two main applications of metropolitan area networks are transparent LAN services (TLS) and Internet connection. As Ethernet becomes an emerging metropolitan area network technology, simple VLAN mechanisms used in LANs are being expanded to support TLS and VPN requirements for metropolitan areas. Extreme Networks has adopted the inherent Ethernet mechanisms, such as 802.1Q marking and 802.1Q tunneling and the ability to handle Layer 2 TLS services and Layer 3 routing Internet services on the same physical network, and has deployed various metropolitan area network TLS and point-to-multipoint VPN and Internet connection services. If you look at Ethernet in depth, we will find that most of the solutions MPLS is trying to implement already exist in the Ethernet layer 2/Layer 3 environment.
Extreme Networks' MPLS solution
As an active participant in the MPLS forum and IETF and the earliest developer of advanced multi-layer IP switch/router solutions, Extreme Networks is currently at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge viable MPLS solutions. The basic components of the Extreme Networks MPLS plan include: 1. Create a highly scalable, economical MPLS hardware structure to support MPLS
Extreme Network's approach to providing MPLS solutions starts with flexible modular hardware solutions that allow customers to smoothly move to deploy robust MPLS capabilities while leveraging existing equipment investments and existing network structures.
Provide a rich and flexible programming environment for managing MPLS functions
Extreme's switches not only take advantage of the flexibility of the modular MPLS hardware structure, but also have a rich software environment that can efficiently provide LER and LSR functions on all ports. The MPLS function can be enabled or turned off on each VLAN. In addition, Extreme's proven virtual metropolitan area network (VMAN) function can be used to efficiently assemble multiple MPLS-based layer-second VLANs.
As a leader in developing advanced IP switch/router solutions that enable service providers and enterprises to optimize the metro and LAN environment, Extreme Networks has always focused on implementing early MPLS products, providing flexible and robust solutions for implementing VPNs and developing basic traffic engineering capabilities. Expansion, configuration and economics have always been the main goals of the early MPLS products provided by Black Diamond structures
But at the same time, these Extreme Networks early MPLS solutions are designed specifically to provide a solid foundation and scalable structure for scaling and enhancing MPLS capabilities as market requirements and MPLS standard state continue to evolve. By creating modular, incrementally deployable MPLS solutions directly to applications that can achieve maximum return on investment immediately, Extreme is continuing to work on delivering real results. Additionally, by continuing to play a key leadership role in the MPLS forums, IETFs and other standards organizations, Extreme Networks is helping to define and expand opportunities to achieve more MPLS advantages in the future.
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Article entry: csh Editor in charge: csh