MPLS Networks Explained: Here’s All You Need To Know About MPLS VPN

MPLS VPN today is one of the most precise and extensively used technologies that offer service providers complete control over their service offerings. Starting from bandwidth inputs to latencies, service guarantees, and availability, every parameter can be monitored in an extensive manner through MPLS VPN.

The technology also offers secure VPNs or virtual private networks that allow scalability options to the providers offering higher growth of business with low investments. MPLS VPN integrates the complete system with a secure and select routing protocol that provides value-added services offering an additional edge to the providers.

Moreover, the VPNs also allow lower networking convolutions, better management of individual point-to-point circuits, lesser costs, and flexibility to adopt cloud computing in a better manner.

How do MPLS networks work?

MPLS is an enterprise-grade networking solution that allows prioritized setting of efficient routes for transfer of data and traffic. When a data packet enters the MPLS-based network through a router, it is assigned to a particular forwarding route by MPLS by tagging it with an identifier.

The identifier or label helps in distinguishing the path or LSP (Label switched path) that the router must use to send the packet to its destination. Thus, when a data packet enters the network the routers do not have to perform header analysis on them repeatedly. Each router in the network, therefore, handles the data packets according to their specific tags.

Due to this process, the MPLS VPN network operates at a higher consistency in managing the packets with particular characteristics. A different label is used every time their packet is forwarded to the next-hop facilitating real-time traffic flow. The process also reduces latency in the network which is often one of the biggest problems in the traditional routing methods.

Categories of MPLS VPN

MPLS VPN is a virtual private network that enables transportation of different kinds of traffic generated on the network through the MPLS technology. It allows service providers to connect with customer sites that are geographically diverse. MPLS VPNs are of three categories:

Pseudowires (Point-to-point MPLS VPN)
Pseudo wiring is an efficient technique for imitating a point-to-point connection over a network. Pseudowires act as transparent wires that carry the network services offered by the providers. Standard services provided by the pseudowires include ATM, Ethernet, and Frame-Relay while the packet-switched network may be IP, L2TP or MPLS.

VPLS
VPLS or MPLS based Layer 2 VPN allows the provider to reduce the over routing problems on the customer’s end. In this, the provider renders a layer two pipe from one customer site to another over the MPLS core. Once the render is complete the customers’ needs to perform routing configurations at their end-devices.

The implementation of VPLS is similar to the performance of VPNs in Layer 2 technologies such as ATMs and Frame Relay.

IPVPN
MPLS Layer 3 VPN, also called IPVPN, is one of the most used MPLS VPN implementations by the Service Providers.

The main difference between an MPLS based Layer 3 VPN and MPLS based Layer 2 VPN is that the part of service providers in customer routing. The customers run any IGP or static routing or BGP with the service provider, and then the MPLS core traverses these routes. Once the traversing gets completed, the packets are shared with other sites of the customer.

MPLS VPN and Security

While the MPLS VPNs are taking over the traditional methods of routing, there is a growing concern of safety amongst the service providers. The reliability of MPLS VPNs against cyber-attacks has been a concern for many.

Fortunately, the answer to these questions is quite straight forward. Pure MPLS VPN conceals customer’s address space and core networks to 100 percent. Therefore, the system will not reveal any to any third-party.

With no information revealed from the network, the hackers cannot obtain access to critical information such as IP addresses of the router to perform any attacks and bring down the system.

Moreover, the service providers prevent their routers from being accessed via the Internet by applying access control lists (ACLs). These lists limit access to the ports of the routing protocol within their network.

Characteristics and Advantages of MPLS VPN

MPLS VPNs have the following features:

• It allows proper assignment of data packets for multiple traffic classes. Therefore, making traffic management more accessible and permitting extensive usage of data.
• It offers a better quality of service and by prioritizing applications and redirecting traffics to assigned paths.
• It simplifies the interlinking of various branches of business operations and synchronizes the Optical networking frame relay and transfer of data packets.
• The ingress and egress routers in MPLS VPN are label switching protocol specified, allowing proper label swapping on the data packets.

Due to these exceptions characteristics offered by MPLS VPNs organizations can increase the efficiency of their services. They can reduce the problems that traditional methods are not able to detect. These characteristics also offer advantages like;

• Optimum and scalable options to connect with the cloud
• Connectivity of both Non-IP and IP based security systems on the wide-area networks extensively used by enterprises
• Voice over internet protocols, web conferencing and mission-critical apps used for business operations run immaculately on the MPLS networks
• Businesses can reduce the number of systems accessing the network by maintaining a secure access protocol. Thus, reducing the costs to manage and maintain network efficiency.
• Enterprises can also prioritize selective business-critical applications on the network for higher input and output bandwidth.

MPLS VPN – The One Stop Solution

In many ways, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) VPNs are the glue that holds business operations together. Without them, a good portion of the business productivity can come to a grinding halt.

Therefore, more and more enterprises today are transferring their attention to MPLS VPN services. These enterprises are looking for a way to connect their global operations quickly to enhance the security of their business protocols. And MPLS VPN has come out as a one-stop solution for their apprehensions.

For more information please visit Tata Tele Business Services.