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We have now reviewed the set-up characteristics and data flow of Layer-3 and Layer-2 VPNs. Having examined the leading Layer-3 and Layer 2-VPN protocols, let’s look at their respective advantages and disadvantages in the real world.
Each MPLS VPN solution was designed to satisfy a perceived market need. At first, many thought that Layer-3 VPNs would satisfy the marketplace demands; but, as time passed, the world of Layer-2 transports became an untapped market and thus several approaches to Layer-2 VPNs were developed. We should resist comparing one standard against the other because what matters is whether any given standard can satisfy the end customer’s needs whether that customer is a telephone carrier, an ISP, or enterprise network. Does the customer have a legacy system like SNA pulling or do they need a new approach to networking from the start? So when reviewing the chart below, we should keep in mind that the best MPLS VPN solution is the one that satisfies the customer’s requirement.
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