MPLS is becoming the technology of choice for Layer 2 and Layer 3 service delivery. More than 250 service providers and enterprise customers have integrated MPLS into their networks to provide Layer 3 VPNs, implement traffic engineering, reduce costs from operating multiple networks, and increase revenues from new service options based on MPLS technology. Chief technology officers, IT managers, network managers, service provider product managers, and service architects have many different choices in architecting and building their backbones. For example, they can build on existing Layer 2 networks and add IP routing functionality, or they can build a new high-speed packet core using multiservice devices and add Layer 2 or Layer 3 services to it. These decision makers also need a technology that can scale to their network for various services and track the growth curve without radically changing the design midway through deployment. For these individuals to make intelligent choices, they require a comprehensive overview that includes service management, technology management, and network management, so the total cost of ownership can be determined. This book discusses a series of steps that network managers can follow for the introduction of a new Layer 2 or Layer 3 service using MPLS. Who Should Read This Book?The primary audience for this book include CTOs, IT managers, network managers, service provider product managers, and service architects who are responsible for assessing technology and architecture as a basis for service and solutions deployment. Industry analysts, focusing on telecommunications, constitute the secondary audience for the book. Network managers often question the value that MPLS brings to their business environments. This book provides them with a precise guide for evaluating the benefits of MPLS-based applications and solutions. The book guides the network manager through the business case for MPLS by exploring other technology alternatives, including applications, benefits, and deficiencies. Understanding the service creation process as the basis for MPLS-based solutions is pivotal when describing the benefits that MPLS offers. The book explores MPLS technology and its components, providing the reader with an overview of the architecture necessary to reap the true advantages that MPLS brings to a service provider or enterprise network. These advantages include new revenue opportunities and a total cost of ownership reduction that positively impacts a company's bottom line. Return on investment (ROI) models and case study examples further confirm the business impact and help the decision maker create a blueprint for MPLS service creation. Specific aspects, such as security, network management, advanced services, and the future of the technology complete the book, helping decision makers assess MPLS as a candidate for implementation. How This Book Is OrganizedThe book is divided into four major sections as follows: Part 1, "The Business Case for MPLS," includes Chapters 1, "The Dynamics of Service Creation and Deployment," and 2, "The Scope of Service Types."
Part 2, "The Technical Case for MPLS," includes Chapters 3, "Technology Overview: Making the Technology Case for MPLS and Technology Details." This chapter highlights all the available technologies for creating the services described in the previous chapters. It provides pros and cons for each option and builds a case for MPLS as a baseline technology for service creation. Part 3, "MPLS Services and Components," includes Chapters 4, "Layer 2 VPNs," Chapter 5, "Layer 3 VPNs," Chapter 6, "Remote Access and IPSec MPLS-VPN Integration," and Chapter 7, "MPLS Security," Chapter 8, "Traffic Engineering," Chapter 9, "Quality of Service," Chapter 10, "Multicast and NGN," and Chapter 11, "IPv6."
Part 4, "Bringing Your MPLS Plan Together," combines the technologies that have been discussed in the previous chapters to build a comprehensive service with design, provisioning, and management taken into account. It includes Chapters 12, "Network Management and Provisioning," Chapter 13, "Design Considerations: Putting it All Together," Chapter 14, "MPLS Case Studies," and Chapter 15, "The Future of MPLS." MPLS architecture provides a challenge in troubleshooting and debugging due to the separation of control and data planes. Features such as MPLS OAM help trace issues and problems that are critical to deploying and managing a service. Chapter 12 describes the management and provisioning aspects for Layer 2 and Layer 3 services. Chapter 13 provides checklist items to keep in mind when building Layer 2-and Layer 3-based services. It discusses various scalability aspects, feature protocol aspects that the designer and network manager must be aware of before making a decision to start deployment of MPLS-based Layer 2 or Layer 3 VPNs that can affect the design of the Layer 2 and Layer 3 services. Chapter 14 discusses two case studies and both real and hypothetical customer examples, builds ROI models, and shares their lessons in deploying MPLS technology. Chapter 15 discusses the future of MPLS and how MPLS VPN mechanisms can be leveraged to build a transport-independent infrastructure. |