MPLS in metro access networks

Fri Nov 16 17:20:41 UTC 2001

heh. The myth that MPLS is, operationally, somehow "Faster" than standard IP
routing can be chalked up to our friends at various hardware manufacturers.
MPLS, for MPLS's sake has caused only network instability, rather than
enhanced performance.

There are a few good applications for MPLS in the metro - Layer 2 MPLS VPNs
are one of them.

Keep in mind - many of the metro gig-e providers hyped MPLS for purposes of
pleasing analysts and VCs, rather than any technical benefits.

- Daniel Golding

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanog at merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog at merit.edu]On Behalf Of
Quibell, Marc
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:20 AM
To: 'srihari varada'; nanog at merit.edu
Subject: RE: MPLS in metro access networks

I would think faster switching/routing and less processing would be wanted
in any mid-to-large sized network...I'm not sure what load balancing and
fault restoration has to do with MPLS....

Marc

-----Original Message-----
From: srihari varada [mailto:varada at txc.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 10:12 AM
To: nanog at merit.edu
Subject: MPLS in metro access networks

Hello:

I have heard some stressing the role of MPLS in metro access networks.
It is difficult for me to visualize the need for it in them while it
is not so difficult to understand the utility (load balancing and fault
restoration etc.) of it in the metro backbone networks.

To characterize metro access networks in the context, the following is
provided:
-- aggregates traffic from residential (arriving via broadband access
   links such as xDSL, Cable) and business consumers (arriving via
broadband access links such as
   xDSL and high speed links such as Ethernet or SONET)
-- funnels aggregated traffic to metro backbone networks for destination

    hosts in the local metro region or remote regions across the
internet regional
   and backbone networks. Majority of such access networks are SONET/ATM
based (I didn't come
   across any case of Gig Ethernet. However, I do not preculde it).

Thus, there are two questions:
-- Are there known RBOCs/ILECs and CLECs entrenching MPLS in the said
   network scope? (I do not see many major ILECs in the un-official MPLS
service
   providers list being circulated but it may mean little)
-- If so, what motivates them to do so? Any analysis of the driving
forces is appreciated.

Regards,

Srihari Varada