Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Introduction

2. Traditional Routing and Packet Switching

3. MPLS and Its Components

4. MPLS Operation

5. MPLS Protocol Stack Architecture

6. MPLS Applications

7. Standard Groups

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Definition
Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is a versatile solution to address the problems faced by present-day networks—speed, scalability, quality-of-service (QoS) management, and traffic engineering. MPLS has emerged as an elegant solution to meet the bandwidth-management and service requirements for next-generation Internet protocol (IP)–based backbone networks. MPLS addresses issues related to scalability and routing (based on QoS and service quality metrics) and can exist over existing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and frame-relay networks.

Overview
This tutorial provides an in-depth look at the technology behind MPLS, with an emphasis on the protocols involved. The tutorial also discusses why MPLS is an important component in the deployment of converged networks.