Carrier Ethernet Academy

MEF-CECP Boot Camp

Course Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 1

Course Overview

Boot Camp Introduction

Module 1 Carrier Ethernet EVC Services

1-1 Carrier Ethernet EVC Services Definitions

1-2 Carrier Ethernet EVC Services Attributes

1-3 User Network Interface (UNI), Link OAM, and E-LMI

Module 2 E-NNI and Carrier Ethernet OVC Services

2-1 External Network-to-Network Interfaces

2-2 Carrier Ethernet OVC Services Definitions and Service Attributes

Module 3 - Circuit Emulation, Synchronization and Mobile Backhaul

Module 4 Service OAM and Protection

4-1 Service OAM Fault and Performance Management Tools

4-2 Protection Mechanisms

Module 5 - Carrier Ethernet Transport Technologies

5-1 Native Ethernet Transport

5-2 MPLS Transport

5-3 SONET/SDH and Optical Transport

Module 6 - Carrier Ethernet Access Technologies

Module 7 CE 2.0 Equipment and Services Certification

Module 8 - MEF CECP Boot Camp Course Review

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 2

MPLS Overview

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

MPLS operates over enhanced IP routers

MPLS enhances the IP protocol and adds OAM mechanisms

MPLS works with both IPv4 and IPv6

MPLS VPNs support both point-to-point and multipoint services

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 3

3 Types of MPLS VPNs

MPLS L3 VPNs

Layer 3 multipoint VPNs are also called IP VPNs

L3 VPNs forward frames based on L3 information such as IP address

MPLS L2 VPNs - VPWS

Layer 2 point-to-point VPNs consist of a collection of pseudowires or

Virtual Private Wire Services

MPLS L2 VPNs - VPLS

Layer 2 multipoint VPNs are also called Virtual Private LAN Services

L2 VPNs forward frames based on L2 information such as MAC

address or VLAN ID
Module 5-2 MPLS Transport
Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 4

MPLS L3 VPN

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 5

Ethernet over MPLS L3 VPN

MPLS L3 VPNs can be used to connect remote Ethernet LANs

Provides a simple way to connect remote Ethernet LANs by encapsulating

Ethernet frames in MPLS

The Ethernet network is terminated at PE and Ethernet traffic is routed through

the MPLS network to the remote LAN

MPLS Network
Ethernet
LAN 2

Ethernet
LAN 1

Ethernet
Switching

IP Routing

Ethernet
Switching

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 6

MPLS L2 VPN VPWS

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 7

MPLS L2 VPN - VPWS

MPLS L2 VPNs or Virtual Private Wire Services were introduced to

support non-IP protocols:

TDM

Frame Relay

ATM

Ethernet

VPWS creates MPLS tunnels and pseudowires used for delivering

point-to-point E-LINE services such as EPL and EVPL

Pseudowire technology is standardized by the Internet Engineering

Task Force (IETF) Pseudo Wire Emulation Edge to Edge (PWE3)
Working Group

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 8

E-Line Service over MPLS - VPWS

E-Line Service
MPLS Network
MPLS Tunnel LSP (forward)
Pseudowire (forward)

Pseudowire (backward)

CE1

PE1

MPLS Tunnel LSP (backward)

PE2

CE2

Ethernet
Attachment Circuit
(Also supports ATM, FR, IP, TDM, etc)

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 9

Ethernet Encapsulation over MPLS

4 octets
Tunnel
Label

4 octets
PW
Label

4 octets
Control
Word

Payload (Ethernet/802.3 PDU)

0000

Reserved for future use

Sequence Number

4 bits

12 bits

16 bits

Specified in RFC 4448 Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Ethernet

over MPLS Networks

When the forwarder hands a frame to the PW termination function:

The preamble and FCS are stripped off

The control word is prepended to the resulting frame

The pseudowire demultiplexer (PW label) is prepended to the resulting packet

The tunnel encapsulation (one or more labels) is prepended to the packet

The packet is transmitted

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport
Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 10

MPLS L2 VPN VPLS

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 11

MPLS L2 VPN - VPLS

VPLS is a multipoint L2 VPN that allows multiple sites to be connected

in a single bridged domain over an IP/MPLS network

Used for delivering point-to-point or multipoint services

Step 1: Creation of Pseudowires between PEs

Point-to-point PWs are the building blocks of VPLS instances

The creation of PWs enables PEs to participate in MAC learning

Step 2: MAC Learning and Forwarding by the Virtual Bridges

A PE must implement a Virtual Bridge for each VPLS instance (EVC)

One Forwarding Information Base (FIB) for each VPLS instance (EVC)

Ethernet traffic is switched based on MAC addresses

Split Horizon rule is used to avoid loops

Step 3: MPLS Core simply switches packets based on MPLS labels

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport
Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 12

E-LAN Service over MPLS - VPLS

CE1

MPLS Network

PE1

PE2
CE4

CE2

VB

VB
VB

VB

CE5

CE3
MPLS Tunnels

Virtual
Bridges

Pseudowires
VB
Attachment
Circuits

VB
PE3
CE6

CE7

CE8

CE9

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 13

VPLS Operation Example

Once a VPLS instance is created frames are sent and MAC learning starts

CE1 sends a frame to PE1 destined for CE4

PE1 learns that CE1 can be reached on one of its local ports and stores the location in its FIB

PE1 has not learned where CE4 is so it floods the frame to PE2 and PE3

PE2 learns that CE1 is connected to PE1 and stores the location in its FIB

PE3 also learns that CE1 is connected to

PE1 and stores the location in its FIB

PE2 strips off the labels and floods the

frame on all if its ports except to PE3
because of the split horizon rule

CE1

MPLS Network

PE1

PE2
CE4

PE3 also strips off the labels and floods the

frame on all if its ports except to PE2
because of the split horizon rule

CE4 receives the frame and replies to CE1

PE2 learns that CE4 can be reached on

one of its local ports and stores the
location in its FIB

CE2

VB

VB

VB

VB

CE5

CE3

PE2 already knows that CE1 can be reached via PE1

PE1 already knows that CE1 can be reached on one of its

local ports

PE1 strips off the labels and sends the frame to CE1

VB
VB
PE3
CE6

CE7

CE8

CE9

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 14

MPLS Transport Profile

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 15

MPLS-TP Overview

MPLS-TP eliminates the MPLS control plane

Provides deterministic and connection oriented behavior using

LSPs

Enables provisioning of working and backup paths in the network

Paths are provisioned using an NMS/EMS

Results in a highly predictable network architecture

Mainly used for delivering point-to-point services

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 16

MPLS Transport Summary

MPLS is the most widely used transport technology for

Interconnecting Carrier Ethernet Networks

L3 VPN routes between Ethernet networks used for point-to-point or

multipoint services

L2 VPN - VPWS Pseudowires used for point-to-point services

L2 VPN - VPLS used for used for point-to-point or multipoint services

MPLS-TP is deterministic and connection oriented

MPLS solves the scalability limitations of Ethernet by allowing an

unlimited number of subscribers and providing MPLS management
and protection tools

Module 5-2 MPLS Transport

Copyright 2015 The Carrier Ethernet Academy
Slide 17