17 mpls configuration – Riverstone Networks WICT1-12 User Manual

Page 309

Advertising

Riverstone Networks RS Switch Router User Guide Release 8.0 17-1

17 MPLS CONFIGURATION

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a technology that enables routers to forward traffic based on a simple
label embedded into the packet header. A router can simply examine the label to determine the next hop for the
packet, rather than perform a much more complex route lookup on the destination IP address.While originally
designed to speed up layer 3 routing of packets, label-based switching can provide other benefits to IP networks.
Riverstone’s MPLS allows you to do the following:

•

set the path that traffic will take through a network and set performance characteristics for a
class of traffic

•

add new network routing services without changing the basic forwarding paradigm

•

create virtual private network (VPN) tunnels throughout the network (without the need for
encryption or end-user applications)

Note

The MPLS features described in this chapter are only supported on
MPLS-enabled RS line cards. See your Riverstone representative for specific
part numbers and applicable RS platforms.

This chapter contains the following sections:

•

For an overview of MPLS concepts and terminology, and the MPLS features supported on the
RS, see

Section 17.1, "MPLS Architecture Overview."

•

To enable MPLS on the RS switch router, see

Section 17.2, "Enabling and Starting MPLS on

the RS."

•

To configure Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) signaling for MPLS, see

Section 17.3,

"RSVP Configuration."