MPLS

What Is MPLS?
Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a technology applied at a layer
between layers 2 and 3 (that is, layer 2.5). MPLS combines label
forwarding and layer-3 routes together to provide connection-oriented
services for the IP network.

Layer 3 IP
MPLS
Layer 2 ATM/FR/Ethernet/PPP

Layer 1 SDH/ODH/WDN

1 Multiple Protocols

MPLS supports multiple link-layer protocols (ATM/FR/Ethernet/PPP).

ATM ATM

MPLS
FR FR

Ethernet Ethernet

PPP
PPP

2 Label Swapping

MPLS adds fixed-length labels to packets . In this way, label swapping

replaces IP forwarding.

IP forwarding Label swapping

Destination Destination
IP address IP address Label Label

Longest matching rule. Only labels are retrieved,

and IP addresses are not
Slow forwarding speed.
retrieved.
High-speed forwarding.

What Is a Label?
A label is located between layers 2 and 3 (layer 2.5). A label value is a 20-
bit integral between 0 and 1048575.

Layer-2 frame Layer-3 packet

header Label header

Experimental bit
Used as MPLS QoS

20bits 3bits 1bit 8bits Stack bottom

Label Experimental Stack TTL 1: The label is a stack
value bit bottom bottom label.
0: The label is not a
stack bottom label.

TTL
Time to Live

How Is a Label Generated?

Labels are distributed by LDP between LSRs, including three phases:

1 Routing Table Generation

By using the dynamic routing protocol (OSPF or IS-IS), each LSR

generates its own routing table.

Destination
Network Egress
Segment Interface
Destination
47.1 1 Network Egress
Destination
Egress Segment Interface
Network 47.2 1
Segment Interface Destination
47.3 2 47.1 1 Network Egress
47.1 1 47.2 1 Segment Interface
47.2 1 1 47.3 2 47.1 1
47.3 2 2
47.2 2
2
LSR2 47.3 3
1
2 1
3
LSR3 1 47.1
LSR1
47.3
LSR4 2
47.2
 2 LIB Generation

Each LSR uses LDP to distribute labels to its upstream LSR in

accordance with the routing table.

1
2
2
LSR2
1
1
2
3 47.1
LSR3 1
LSR1
47.3
LSR4 2
47.2

Each LSR generates an LIB in accordance with the generated and

received labels.

Destination
Ingress Ingress Network Egress Egress
Interface Label Segment Interface Label
2 60 47.1 1 50 Destination
Ingress Ingress Network Egress Egress
Interface Label Segment Interface Label
1 2 50 47.1 1 40
2

LSR2 2
1
2 1
LSR3 3
LSR1 1 47.1
LSR4
47.3 2
47.2
Ingress Destination Ingress Egress Ingress Ingress Destination Egress
Network
Interface Network Label Interface Interface Label Interface
Segment Segment
2 47.1 1 60 3 40 47.1 1

3 LSP Generation

Data packets are added with the specified labels by different LSRs,
and the data packets are forwarded in accordance with these labels.
The path where the data packets pass through is an LSP.

LSP

1
2
2
LSR2
1
2 1
3
LSR3 1 47.1
LSR1
47.3
LSR4 2
47.2

What is Penultimate Hop Popping?

The egress LSR is directly connected to the IP network, and labels are
unnecessary. Therefore, labels can be popped off from data packets at
the penultimate hop, thus reducing the load of the egress LSR.

When data packets arrive at LSR3 (the penultimate hop), label

swapping is not performed, and only old labels are popped off. Data
packets without labels are transmitted to LSR4 (egress LSR).

LSP

1
2
2
LSR2
1
2 1
3
LSR3 1 47.1
LSR1
47.3 ( penultimate hop ) 2
LSR4
47.2
(egress LSR)

The egress LSR assigns special label 3 to the penultimate hop.

Destination
Ingress Ingress Network Egress Egress
Interface Label Segment Interface Label
Destination
2 60 47.1 1 50 Ingress Ingress Network Egress Egress
Interface Label Segment Interface Label

1 2 50 47.1 1 3
2

LSR2 2
1
2 1
3
LSR1 LSR3 47.1
1
( penultimate hop )
47.3 LSR4 2
(egress LSR) 47.2
Ingress Destination Ingress Egress
Interface Network Label Interface Destination Egress
Segment Network
Interface
2 47.1 1 60 Segment
47.1 1

Version: R2.0 Released: 2018-06-13

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