BCS UNIT 5

MULTIPROTOCOL LABEL SWITCHING

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a technology designed to improve the efficiency of traffic
designation, routing, forwarding, and switching within optical packet-switched networks. Initially developed
by Cisco Systems and called tag switching, MPLS was later adopted and standardized by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF), leading to its current name.

Key Components and Functionality:

1. Label-Based Forwarding:

 MPLS uses labels to direct traffic through MPLS domains. When a packet with a label arrives at a Label
Switching Router (LSR), the label determines its path through the network.
 The LSR swaps the incoming label for an outgoing label and forwards the packet to the next hop. This
method allows packets belonging to the same Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC) to be treated
uniformly.
2. Efficiency and Speed:

 Because a packet's label is assigned only once at the MPLS edge, and switching is based solely on label
information, MPLS enables fast and efficient data transmission.
 The process involves receiving a packet, replacing its incoming label with an outgoing one, and
forwarding it through another interface, creating a virtual circuit capability based on the network type
and switching method.
3. Traffic Types and Labels:

 MPLS supports various types of traffic by correlating labels with specific switching methods, such as
time slots in Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) networks, wavelengths in Wavelength Division
Multiplexed (WDM) networks, and headers in IP or ATM networks.
 This flexibility allows MPLS to handle different transmission techniques while using a common control
plane mechanism for establishing label mappings and cross-connect tables.
4. Layer Independence:

 MPLS operates independently of OSI model layers 2 and 3, supporting ATM, frame relay, and Ethernet
as data link layers.
 A significant application of MPLS is in providing IP Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) over SDH/SONET,
enabling secure and cost-effective wide area networks (WANs) for businesses.

Generalized MPLS (GMPLS):

To extend MPLS functionality to non-packet-based networks like TDM and WDM, Generalized MPLS
(GMPLS) was developed. GMPLS includes additional protocols and enhancements to support a broader
range of switching methods:
1. Extended Capabilities:

 GMPLS incorporates support for various domains such as packet, time, wavelength, and fiber switching,
using control and management planes for routing, signaling, and linking.
 It includes routing protocols for automatic network topology discovery and resource availability
announcements, crucial for handling optical link failures.
2. Enhanced Signaling Protocols:

 Enhancements in GMPLS signaling protocols include label exchange for non-packet networks,
bidirectional LSP establishment, backup path signaling, expedited label assignment, and waveband
switching support.
3. Link Management Protocol:

 GMPLS features a link management protocol with functions such as channel management control, link
connectivity verification, link property correlation, and fault isolation, ensuring robust network
performance and fault management.

Implementation and Future Prospects:

Recent successful implementations of GMPLS-based optical networks highlight its potential. However, the
continued development of transmission and device technologies is crucial for further improvements in
speed and efficiency. GMPLS's ability to generalize multiprotocol switching across various network types
positions it as a vital component for future optical networking advancements.

MPLS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

1. MPLS Overview: MPLS is a protocol-agnostic routing technique that directs data packets from one
network node to the next based on labels instead of network addresses. Labels are added to packets at the
ingress router and are used to determine the path through the network.

2. Traffic Engineering: Traditional routing protocols, like OSPF and IS-IS, calculate paths based on shortest
hop count, which may not always be the most efficient in terms of bandwidth utilization or network
congestion. MPLS TE allows network administrators to manually define paths for specific traffic flows,
optimizing network resources and ensuring reliable performance.

3. Traffic Engineering Components:

- Traffic Engineering Database (TED): Maintains information about network topology, link bandwidth, and
resource availability.
- Constraint-based Path Computation: MPLS TE algorithms calculate paths based on specified constraints,
such as available bandwidth, latency, or link utilization.
- Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE): MPLS TE signaling protocol used to
establish Label Switched Paths (LSPs) and reserve network resources along the path.
 - Traffic Engineering Extensions to OSPF and IS-IS: These extensions allow OSPF and IS-IS protocols to
exchange information about network topology and resource availability with MPLS TE routers.

4. Benefits:
- Optimized Network Utilization: MPLS TE enables network administrators to distribute traffic across
multiple paths based on real-time network conditions, reducing congestion and improving overall
performance.
- Quality of Service (QoS) Support: By defining explicit paths for specific traffic flows, MPLS TE ensures
that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and latency requirements.
- Fast Rerouting: MPLS TE supports fast rerouting mechanisms that can quickly redirect traffic in the event
of link failures or network congestion, improving network resiliency and reliability.

5. Applications:
- Service Provider Networks: MPLS TE is commonly used in service provider networks to offer premium
services with guaranteed bandwidth and performance.
- Enterprise Networks: Large enterprises may deploy MPLS TE to optimize the performance of critical
applications and ensure efficient utilization of network resources.
- Traffic Engineering for IP/MPLS VPNs: MPLS TE can be used to provide traffic engineering capabilities
within MPLS Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), ensuring efficient traffic routing and QoS guarantees for VPN
customers.

Overall, MPLS Traffic Engineering enhances the capabilities of MPLS networks by allowing for more efficient
resource utilization, improved QoS, and better network performance. It is widely used in both service
provider and enterprise networks to optimize traffic routing and ensure reliable service delivery.

INTEGRATED SERVICE INTERNET

The Integrated Services Internet is an architecture developed to provide Quality of Service (QoS)
guarantees for real-time applications over the Internet. Here's an overview:

1. Definition: The Integrated Services (IntServ) architecture aims to offer end-to-end QoS guarantees for
individual application sessions by reserving network resources along the path from source to destination.

2. Resource Reservation: IntServ employs a reservation-based model, where applications request specific
QoS requirements, such as bandwidth, delay, or packet loss, from the network. Routers along the path
reserve resources to meet these requirements using signaling protocols like Resource Reservation Protocol
(RSVP).
3. Per-Flow State: One key feature of IntServ is the maintenance of per-flow state information at routers.
Each session's QoS requirements are identified, and routers allocate resources accordingly to ensure that
these requirements are met.

4. Traffic Control: IntServ routers perform admission control to determine if sufficient resources are
available to satisfy a new reservation request without violating existing commitments. Packet scheduling
mechanisms are employed to manage the transmission of packets based on their QoS requirements.

5. Applications: IntServ is particularly suited for real-time applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP), video
conferencing, and interactive multimedia streaming, which require low latency, minimal packet loss, and
predictable performance.

6. Challenges: While IntServ provides granular QoS guarantees, its scalability is limited due to the overhead
associated with maintaining per-flow state information at routers. Additionally, it may not be suitable for
large-scale deployments or networks with dynamic traffic patterns.

7. Deployment: Integrated Services has been primarily deployed in controlled environments, such as
enterprise networks or specialized applications requiring stringent QoS guarantees. However, its adoption
in the public Internet has been limited due to scalability and operational complexities.

Overall, Integrated Services Internet offers a mechanism to provide end-to-end QoS guarantees for real-
time applications but faces challenges in scalability and widespread deployment in the global Internet
infrastructure.

RSVP
RSVP, the signaling protocol in the Intserv model, reserves network resources for data flows by visiting each
node along the routed path. It runs in hosts and routers, working on a flow basis and refreshing
reservations within a specified time limit, known as 'soft-state' reservation. Key characteristics include
providing bandwidth reservation for multicast applications and being receiver-oriented.
RSVP comprises two main components: packet classifier and packet scheduler, which make QoS decisions
about packets. RSVP communicates among various components in hosts and routers, advising on queue
management and packet discard policies. Admission control decides resource availability, while packet
scheduling ensures different services for different flows.
RSVP queries local decision modules to determine QoS feasibility and sets up parameters in the packet
classifier and scheduler. The classifier associates packets with reservations based on header examination,
while the scheduler forwards packets to achieve desired QoS. If the host's link layer has QoS management,
the scheduler negotiates for QoS; otherwise, it allocates transmission capacity and system resources
independently.
RSVP operates through two basic messages: PATH and RESV. A PATH message, initiated by the sender and
addressed to the destination, establishes states along the path for application packets. It includes sender's
T_Spec and ADSPEC. Upon receiving, the receiver constructs a RESV message based on PATH's information,
sending it back towards the sender for resource reservation. If successful, a success message is returned;
otherwise, resources are released.
RSVP doesn't perform routing but relies on underlying IP routing protocols. As routing adapts to topology
changes, RSVP reservations are carried over to the new path. It scales well for multicast applications, using
receiver-oriented reservation requests that merge along the multicast tree. If a RESV message encounters
an existing reservation for another receiver in the same group, further propagation isn't needed, allowing
reservation sharing.

DIFFERENTIATED SERVICE INTERNET

Differentiated Services (DiffServ) is a QoS model allowing IP traffic to be classified into priority or delay
classes. It operates on per-hop behavior, where routers treat packets differently based on their priority
markings (DSCP). At congested routers, higher-priority packets are given preferential treatment, improving
their chances of timely delivery. DiffServ doesn't offer explicit end-to-end guarantees like IntServ but
provides scalable and efficient traffic management based on packet prioritization. Key components include
traffic classification, marking, conditioning, per-hop behavior, and congestion management.
The Differentiated Services (DiffServ) architecture offers a scalable and adaptable approach to managing
quality of service (QoS) in IP networks. Unlike the IntServ/RSVP model, which requires intricate signaling
mechanisms and significant infrastructure changes, DiffServ focuses on efficiently handling various classes
of traffic without the need for explicit end-to-end guarantees.
DiffServ achieves this by employing packet marking and classification mechanisms at the network edge,
where incoming traffic is categorized based on its temporal properties and compared against predefined
traffic profiles. These marked packets undergo traffic conditioning to ensure adherence to the specified
profiles before being forwarded into the network. Within the core of the network, routers implement per-
hop behavior (PHB) mechanisms to make forwarding decisions based on the marked class of packets, rather
than maintaining state information for individual source-destination pairs. This simplifies the routing
process and enhances scalability, as routers only need to consider packet markings to prioritize and handle
traffic appropriately.
VOICE OVER IP
Based on RTP, IP telephony is becoming a mainstream application moving away from proprietary solutions
to standards based solutions, providing QoS comparable to the PSTN, and providing transparent
interoperability of the IP and PSTN networks

Gateway decomposition
In Voice over IP (VoIP) systems, the signaling gateway manages communication between end users on
different networks. PSTN signaling, such as SS7 or ISDN, is translated to IP signaling protocols like SIP or
H.323 and transported over the IP network. Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) announces the session,
while Session Description Protocol (SDP) describes the call.
Once a call is established, the media gateway handles the transfer of data, video, and audio streams. PSTN
media transport uses PCM-encoded data on TDM streams, while IP networks use RTP/UDP. The media
gateway controller controls one or more media gateways.
 Protocols
VoIP uses a number of protocols. As far back as 1994, the ITU introduced its H.323 family of protocols, to
provide multimedia capability over the Internet. Many vendors have developed and deployed these
solutions. In parallel, the IETF introduced many protocols used for IP telephony – RTP, RTSP, RTCP, Megaco,
SIP, and SDP. These protocols provide the foundation for standards based IP telephony.
Gatekeepers
Gatekeepers are responsible for addressing, authorisation and authentication of terminal and gateways,
bandwidth management, accounting, billing and charging. They may also provide call-routing services.
Terminal is a PC or stand-alone device running multimedia applications. Multipoint control units (MCU)
provide support for conferences of three or more terminals
Multimedia conferencing (MMC)
Multimedia conferencing (MMC) leverages IP multicast and is well-suited for satellite networks. It includes
voice and video transmission, text messaging, and whiteboard features. MMC supports various groups,
uses RTP/RTCP for transmission and control, and can configure overlapping multicast domains with
administratively scoped addresses.

METRO ETHERNET ACCESS NETWORKS

Metro Ethernet Access Networks are Ethernet-based networks that provide high-speed connectivity to end-
users in metropolitan areas. Here's a concise overview:

Definition: Metro Ethernet Access Networks (MEANs) extend Ethernet services from the traditional
Local Area Networks (LANs) to metropolitan areas, allowing for high-speed connectivity for businesses,
organizations, and residential users.

Technology: MEANs utilize Ethernet technology for data transmission, leveraging the same protocols
and standards used in LANs. This includes Ethernet switches, routers, and fiber-optic or copper cabling
infrastructure.

Benefits:
 High Bandwidth: MEANs offer high-speed connectivity, typically ranging from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps
or more, enabling fast data transmission.
 Scalability: Ethernet technology allows for easy scalability, making it simple to add or upgrade
connections as needed.
 Cost-Effectiveness: Ethernet equipment and infrastructure are often more affordable compared to
other technologies, providing cost-effective solutions for businesses and service providers.
 Flexibility: MEANs support various services such as internet access, voice over IP (VoIP), video
conferencing, and cloud services, offering flexibility to meet diverse user needs.

Components:
 Ethernet Switches: These devices manage traffic within the network, forwarding data packets
between devices connected to the network.
 Routers: Routers connect different networks and manage data traffic between them, facilitating
communication between devices on the MEAN and external networks such as the internet.
 Access Points: Access points provide connectivity for end-user devices such as computers,
smartphones, and IoT devices to access the network wirelessly.

Applications:
 Business Connectivity: MEANs provide high-speed internet access and connectivity for businesses,
supporting mission-critical applications and services.
 Residential Broadband: MEANs offer high-speed broadband services to residential areas, enabling
fast internet access for households.
 Carrier Ethernet Services: Service providers leverage MEANs to deliver Carrier Ethernet services to
customers, including Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN), Ethernet Private Line (EPL), and
Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) services.