How can you explain MPLS to non-technical stakeholders?

1 What is MPLS?

MPLS is a way of labeling packets of data with a short identifier, called a label, that tells the network how to forward them to their destination. Unlike traditional IP routing, which uses the long and complex IP addresses of each packet, MPLS uses the labels to make routing decisions faster and easier. The labels are assigned by the first router in the network, called the ingress router, and removed by the last router, called the egress router. The routers in between, called the label switch routers, only need to look at the labels, not the IP addresses, to forward the packets.

3 How does MPLS work?

MPLS works by creating label switched paths (LSPs), which are predefined routes for different traffic flows across the network. Each LSP consists of a series of labels that correspond to the routers and links that the traffic will traverse. The ingress router assigns the first label to each packet, based on its destination and service class, and sends it to the next router in the LSP. The next router swaps the label with another one, based on its routing table, and sends it to the next router, and so on, until the packet reaches the egress router, which removes the label and delivers the packet to its destination. The LSPs can be established dynamically, using signaling protocols such as RSVP-TE or LDP, or statically, using manual configuration.

4 What are the types of MPLS?

MPLS can be used to provide a variety of services, such as Layer 2 VPNs, which create a single logical LAN across multiple sites, and Layer 3 VPNs, which create a virtual IP network across multiple sites. Additionally, MPLS traffic engineering can optimize the performance and reliability of network traffic using LSPs to create explicit routes for traffic. Furthermore, MPLS quality of service uses labels to classify and prioritize traffic into different service classes and apply different policies and mechanisms to each one. For example, Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS), Virtual Private Network Service (VPNS), Fast Reroute (FRR), and Differentiated Services (DiffServ) are all services that can be enabled by MPLS.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?