Multiprotocol Label Switching Technology Provides Path to Efficiently Managed

While wide area networks (WAN) have been serving humanity with seamless data communications for decades, the recent proliferation of VoIP, interoffice voice and video traffic, and integration of delay-sensitive applications like SAP (News - Alert) and Citrix, the quality of IP communication on the WAN has become nearly as important as the amount of available bandwidth and speed of the connection. Concurrently, the pressure to efficiently managed disaster recovery networks has added extra expenses to managed networks. Consequently, as these requirements change, managing WAN has become challenging. . Aside from the physical infrastructure update, there are many additional components, such as routers, software, VPNs, remote access, PBX’s (News - Alert) and their various integrators and distributors, that must be accordingly improved while ensuring interoperability and security. Couple this with managing networks that are geographically dispersed with limited technical staff and ever constrained budget.

The solution to upgrading WAN to meet the above goals with minimal cost is Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Technology, says the white paper “End to End Service Level Management in the Converged World”, generated by Evolve IP, a communications as a service (CaaS) provider. As per this paper, MPLS is the first carrier-class WAN technology to support end to end CoS/QoS in the carrier network.

In essence, according to the white paper, MPLS enables enterprises and service providers to build next-generation intelligent networks that deliver a wide variety of advanced, value-added services over a single infrastructure. This economical solution can be integrated seamlessly over any existing infrastructure, such as IP, Frame Relay, ATM, or Ethernet. Subscribers with differing access links can be aggregated on an MPLS edge without changing their current environments, as MPLS is independent of access technologies.

Although, it is traditionally delivered through standard “last mile” technologies such as T1 or DS3, Ethernet is quickly becoming more and more available. With MPLS, a short label is added to each IP packet as a “shorthand” representation of the packet’s destination address (header). Subsequent routing decisions (made by Label Switched routers) are made based on the label and not the original IP address, allowing core network routers to operate at higher speeds without having to examine each packet in detail, according to the white paper. The label also contains information about how the data should be prioritized (QoS). In short, MPLS combines the intelligence of routing (Layer 3) with the performance of switching (Layer 2). This allows service providers to deliver private networks for customers over their core network, the paper explains.

The public Internet

Unlike most IPsec-based VPNs that use the public Internet, or some portion of it; most MPLS networks use a dedicated network, where the underlying addressing is not accessible from the Internet or by other enterprises sharing the network, reports the white paper. Under these circumstances, the paper argues that MPLS can provide security comparable to that achieved using frame relay, without needing encryption. This simplifies the equipment, as well as managing the network.

can be delivered and denial of service attacks should not be an issue. While Internet backbones, even when managed by an operator, are vulnerable to traffic and routing disruption as well as hacking and denial of service attacks, as presented in Evolve IP’s (News - Alert) white paper.

According to this white paper, to fully appreciate the benefits of MPLS as the basis for next-generation corporate WANs, it is important to understand the differences. For instance, the major difference between MPLS and IPSec VPNs is the underlying network. Most IPSec VPNs use the public Internet as the infrastructure for connectivity while MPLS uses a private dedicated network infrastructure, as described in the paper.

By using the Internet as the underlying network IPSec VPNs are susceptible to traffic and routing disruptions as well as security issues such as denial of service attacks and hacking. MPLS networks ensure higher service levels, deployment of multiple classes, and reduced security constraints. In addition, MPLS does not require the additional overhead relative to encryption and authentication, notes the paper.

While it has been shown that MPLS networks can support CoS and QoS, their ability to support the converging needs of the business still depends on the quality and prioritization of the data that is being presented to them for transport. Hence, the paper says that it creates additional requirements on the customer premise equipment (CPE), namely routers and switches, to minimize downtime. Consequently, it requires specialized IT staff to manage the WAN network for optimal performance.

In summary, the Evolve IP’s white paper concludes that MPLS offers the right core WAN infrastructure to address the business needs of convergence, CoS and QoS, and disaster recovery with price points that are similar to traditional WAN technologies. And recommends outsourcing the specialized IT staff for managing the network so that in-house staff is focused on strategic initiatives and maintaining service levels.