What are the best ways to optimize MPLS for voice and video traffic?

1 Define QoS policies

One of the main benefits of MPLS is that it can prioritize different types of traffic based on labels, which are assigned by routers at the edge of the network. This allows you to implement QoS, or Quality of Service, policies that can allocate bandwidth, latency, jitter, and packet loss according to the needs of each application. For voice and video traffic, you want to ensure that they have enough bandwidth and low latency and jitter, while avoiding packet loss as much as possible. To do this, you need to define QoS policies that match the labels with the appropriate service levels, and apply them to the routers and switches along the path.

2 Monitor traffic patterns

Another way to optimize MPLS for voice and video traffic is to monitor the traffic patterns and trends on your network. This can help you identify and troubleshoot any issues that may affect the quality of your voice and video calls, such as congestion, bottlenecks, misconfigurations, or failures. You can use tools such as SNMP, NetFlow, or IP SLA to collect and analyze data on the performance and utilization of your network devices and links. By monitoring traffic patterns, you can also adjust your QoS policies and MPLS labels accordingly, to ensure that they reflect the current and expected demand of your network.

3 Use TE and FRR

Another way to optimize MPLS for voice and video traffic is to use TE, or Traffic Engineering, and FRR, or Fast Reroute. TE is a feature that allows you to control the routing and distribution of traffic on your network, by creating explicit paths or tunnels for specific traffic flows. This can help you optimize the use of your network resources, by avoiding congestion and balancing the load. FRR is a feature that allows you to protect your network from failures, by creating backup paths or tunnels for critical traffic flows. This can help you minimize the impact of outages or disruptions, by switching to the backup paths quickly and seamlessly. By using TE and FRR, you can enhance the reliability and availability of your voice and video traffic, as well as the overall performance of your network.

4 Optimize codecs and protocols

Another way to optimize MPLS for voice and video traffic is to optimize the codecs and protocols that are used to encode and transmit the voice and video data. Codecs are algorithms that compress and decompress the voice and video data, to reduce the bandwidth consumption and improve the quality. Protocols are rules that govern the communication and delivery of the voice and video data, to ensure the compatibility and interoperability of the devices and applications. You want to choose codecs and protocols that are suitable for your network conditions and requirements, such as the bandwidth, latency, jitter, and packet loss. You also want to optimize the settings and parameters of the codecs and protocols, such as the sampling rate, bit rate, frame rate, packet size, and error correction, to achieve the best balance between quality and efficiency.

5 Educate users and stakeholders

Another way to optimize MPLS for voice and video traffic is to educate the users and stakeholders of your network, such as the employees, managers, and customers. You want to inform them about the benefits and limitations of MPLS, as well as the best practices and guidelines for using voice and video applications on your network. You want to explain to them how MPLS works, how it affects the quality of service, and how they can monitor and troubleshoot their voice and video calls. You also want to solicit their feedback and suggestions, to improve your network design and configuration, and to meet their expectations and needs. By educating users and stakeholders, you can increase their awareness and satisfaction, as well as the adoption and utilization of MPLS for voice and video traffic.