2017/8/1 Security Level: Internal Use Only

MPLS Basis

May 13th 2011

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HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential

 Preface

This course is developed on the

basis of multi-protocol label
switching technology (MPLS).
The purpose of this course is to
introduce basic knowledge on the
MPLS technology and describe
actual application of MPLS in
MSTP transport network.

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Guidelines
The key point of this course lies in
MPLS technical details and working
principle.
The difficulty of this course lies in
the understanding of actual
application of MPLS in MSTP
transport network.
Before this course, you should know
the basis of SDH and Ethernet.

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References

MPLS principle basis

MPLS L2 VPN principle
Data board deployment guide

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 Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able

to:
Know the concept and development of MPLS.

Understand MPLS technical details and

working principle
Understand actual application of MPLS in

transport network.

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 Contents

Introduction to MPLS
MPLS technical details and working
principle
Actual application of MPLS

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MPLS
MPLSMulti-Protocol Label Switching
Multi-Protocol: supports multiple L3 protocols, such as IP, IPv6 and
IPX. These protocols are located between L2 and L3, so they are also
called L2.5 protocols.
Label: is a short, equal-length, processable information content with
partial meaning only, topology information excluded.
Switching: MPLS packet switching and forwarding are based on labels.
For an IP service, when IP packets enter in the MPLS network, the
router in the entrance analyzes the contents of the IP packet and chooses
proper labels for these IP packets. All nodes in the MPLS network then
depend on these simple labels for forwarding. When the IP packets leave
the MPLS network, these labels are separated by the edge router on the
exit.

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Origin: to Combine IP and ATM

IP MPLS ATM

Connectionles Connectionles Connection-

s-oriented s-oriented oriented
control plane control plane control plane
Connectionles Connection- Connection-
s-oriented oriented oriented
forward plane forward plane forward plane

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Traditional IP Forwarding

Analyze the IP header Analyze the IP header Analyze the IP header

and map the header and map the header and map the header
to the next hop to the next hop to the next hop

The IP header is analyzed at every hop, so the efficiency is low.

QoS is hard to be deployed and the efficiency is low.
All routers need to know all routes of the entire network.

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ATM Switching Process
Virtual channel connection (VCC)

Virtual path connection (VPC)

UNI
UNI
NNI NNI
VC VP VC
switching switching switching

VPI = 1 VPI = 2 VPI = 26 VPI = 20

VCI = 1 VCI = 44 VCI = 44 VCI = 30

Connection-oriented with N2 problems

Routing depends on the link layer and is based on VPI/VCI or labels.
The QoS and real-time services can be ensured.

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A Technology Combining Advantages of
ATM and IP

R + X = X

Router ATM switch MPLS

Router
Layer 3 routing: expandability and flexibility
Layer 2 switching: high reliability and traffic engineering management

Multi-protocol label switching: MPLS

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Basic Concepts of MPLS
LER
MPLS domain
IP
LER LSR LSR
LER

LSP
LSR
MPLS

LER

LSRLabel Switch Router

LERLabel Edge Router
LSPLabel Switch Path

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 Basic Working Process of MPLS

Core LSR
Edge LSR Edge LSR

IP IP L1 IP L2 IP L3 IP

Label traditional IP
traditional IP forwarding forwarding
forwarding

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Advantages of MPLS

The short and fixed-length label replaces the IP header as the forwarding
basis to improve the forwarding speed.
IP and ATM are better combined.
Value-added services are provided without affecting the efficiency.
VPN
Traffic engineering
QoS

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 Why use MPLS
MPLS combines flexible connection and expandability of the network layer with
reliable transmission and QoS of ATM label forwarding.
MPLS supports multiple standard routing protocols, such as BGP and OSPF.
MPLS supports multiple label generation protocols, such as LDP and RSVP.
MPLS supports multiple network layer protocols, such as IPv4, IPv6 and IPX.
MPLS solves the problem of QoS.
MPLS features high performance of label forwarding.
MPLS supports L2 and L3 MPLS VPN.
LSP is the tunnel of the public network, so MPLS has natural dominance of implementing
VPN. MPLS avoids N2 problems of traditional VPN in configuration and management.
The control on VPN is implemented on PE, thus facilitating management and expansion.
Each VPN forms an independent address; that is, VPNs can reuse their addresses.
Control service isolation and interconnection between services of VPN.
Support traffic engineering.
MPLS is connectionless oriented control plane and connection-oriented
forward plane.

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Questions

Q1: Describe the reason and definition of MPLS.

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 This section describes:
Summary Basic concepts of MPLS

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 Contents

Introduction to MPLS
MPLS technical details and
working principle
Actual application of MPLS

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Encapsulation Formats and Labels of MPLS
0 19 22 23 31

Label COS S TTL 32 bits

L2 Header MPLS Header IP Header Data

The MPLS packet header consists of 32 bits (four bytes):

20 bits are used as labels.
Three bits are Experimental, often used as class of service (CoS), but

unspecified in the protocol.

One bit is S, used to nest labels and identify whether it is stack bottom or not.
In this case, the label can be expanded infinitely.
Eight bits are TTL.

The MPLS packet header is located in front of the IP header (L3) and
behind L2 header. Different encapsulation types determine the
location of the MPLS header. The labels (VPI/VCI) of other ATM/FR
are a part of the MPLS protocol stack.

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Label Stack

L2 Header MPLS Header MPLS Header IP Header Data

In theory, the label stack can be nested infinitely and thus

infinite service support capability can be provided. This is
the best feature of MPLS.

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Encapsulation Format of MPLS
CCC Encapsulation Format
DA SA VLAN TAG 0x8847(0x8848Broadcast) Label L3Data

6 6 4 2 4 N

MartinioE Encapsulation Format

DA SA 0x8847(0x8848Broadcast) Tunnel VC Ethernet Data
6 6 2 4 4 N

MartinioP Encapsulation Format

0x8847(0x8848Broadcast) Tunnel VC Ethernet
Data
2 4 4 N
VLAN Encapsulation Format
DA SA 0x8100 VLAN VLAN TAG L3Data
6 6 2 2 4 N

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Page 21
Basic Concepts of Label Forwarding

FEC-Forwarding Equivalent Class

Set of data flows with the same attributes. These data flows are
processed in the same way by LSRs during transmission.
FECs are identified by the address, service type, and QoS.
During IP forwarding through the longest match algorithm, packets
with the same destination belong to an FEC.

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Label Operations

Label operations include

Push
Swap
Pop
PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping)
OptiX Hybrid MSTP does not support PHP

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Creating the Static LSP

Static LSPs are manually created by users to assign labels

for each forwarding equivalence class (FEC) .
The principle followed in manually assigning labels:
The value of the OUT label on a node is the value of the IN label on
the next node.

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Creating the Dynamic LSP

Dynamic LSP is set up automatically by the signaling

protocol as below:
LDPLabel Distribution Protocol
RSVP-TEResource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering
MP-BGPMulti-Protocol BGP
Currently OptiX Hybrid MSTP products dont support
Dynamic LSP.

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MPLS Label Forwarding
In the MPLS domain, there is a static LSP to the IP host
3.3.3.3/32

300 200 100

Eth0 Eth0 Eth2 Eth1 Eth2 Eth0 Eth3

A B C D 3.3.3.3/32
(Ingress) (Transit 1) (Transit 2) (Egress)

Ingress Transit1 Transit2 Egress

FEC Out In Out In Out In

3.3.3.3/32 300 300 200 200 100 100

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 MPLS Label Forwarding
The MPLS forwarding for the former FEC

Push Swap Swap Pop 3.3.3.3/32

300 200 100
Eth0 Eth0 Eth2 Eth1 Eth2 Eth0 Eth3
Ingress Transit1 Transit2 Egress

IP Packet IP Packet
To:3.3.3.3 Label:300 Label:200 Label:100 To:3.3.3.3
IP Packet IP Packet IP Packet
To:3.3.3.3 To:3.3.3.3 To:3.3.3.3

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MPLS TTL Processing
Uniform Mode

CE PE P PE CE

MPLS Domain

MPLS
TTL254

IP TTL MPLS
254 TTL253

IP TTL IP TTL IP TTL

255 254 252

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MPLS TTL Processing (Cont.)
Pipe Mode

CE PE P PE CE

MPLS MPLS
TTL100 TTL 99

IP TTL IP TTL
254 254

IP TTL IP TTL
255 253

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Questions

Q1: Describe the structure of the MPLS packet header and know
the range of labels (maximum value).
Q2: What is the MPLS label forwarding and what is the TTL?

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 This section describes:
Summary MPLS encapsulation format
Relevant concepts of MPLS
Concept of LSP and setup and
forwarding of LSP

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 Contents

Introduction to MPLS
MPLS technical details and
working principle
Actual application of MPLS

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MPLS Tunnel (LSP) Application
The MPLS tunnel application in OptiX Hybrid MSTP

NE2
NODE B
FE

NE1
GE
NODE B
PSN
RNC
NE3
FE

UNI NNI NODE B

PW
L2 L3
MPLS Tunnel
UNI to NNI (L3)
OptiX Hybrid MSTP NE

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 This section describes:
Summary MPLS Tunnel (LSP) Application

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Thank you
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