MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) software from zMPLS is an
efficient and portable implementation of the label switching
capability mechanism as required by industry standards. It supports
RSVP extensions for traffic engineering (RSVP-TE), Label
Distribution Protocol (LDP) with Constraint-based Routed Label
Switched Paths (CR-LSP), MPLS Forwarding Module and Diff-Serv aware
signaling.
The following list of links may be helpful in getting more
information/researching technologies related to MPLS solutions,
protocol stacks and services.
Description of Working Group:
The MPLS working group has been responsible for
standardizing a base technology for using label switching and for
the implementation of label-switched paths over various link-level
technologies, such as Packet-over-Sonet, Frame Relay, ATM, and LAN
technologies (e.g. all forms of Ethernet, Token Ring, etc.). This
includes procedures and protocols for the distribution of labels
between routers, encapsulations and multicast considerations.
The initial goals of the working group have been largely
completed. In particular, it has produced a number of RFCs (see list
below) that define the base Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), the
basic MPLS architecture and encapsulations, and definitions for how
MPLS runs over ATM and Frame Relay links.
The current goals of the working group are:
1. Complete outstanding items from the original MPLS effort:
Informational:
(6/12) Applicability Statement for Extensions to RSVP for
LSP-Tunnels (8/08) Applicability Statement for CR-LDP (6/12) LDP
State Machine
Experimental:
(10/19/99) MPLS Loop Prevention Mechanism
Standards Track:
(8/08) Constraint-Based LSP Setup using LDP (2/07) Carrying Label
Information in BGP-4 (8/29) Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels
(8/29) MPLS Support of Differentiated Services (6/27) LSP
Modification Using CR-LDP (9/01) Definitions of Managed Objects for
LDP (8/29) MPLS Label Switch Router Management Information Base
2. Advance the Proposed Standards developed by the MPLS WG to
Draft Standard. This includes the LDP, CR-LDP, and RSVP-TE signaling
specifications as well as the encapsulations.
3. Specify appropriate extensions to LDP and RSVP for
authentication of LSP originators.
4. Complete work on the MPLS-TE MIB.
5. Specify improved fault tolerance mechanisms for LDP
6. Specify MPLS-specific recovery mechanisms to allow one
label-switched path to be used as backup for a set of other
label-switched paths, including cases which permit local repair.
What constitutes the necessary set of MPLS-specific recovery
mechanism should be ascertained through cooperation with the CCAMP
and TE working groups.
7. Document additional MPLS encapsulations to allow the operation
of label-switched paths over additional lower-layer technologies,
such as time-division (e.g. SONET ADMs), wavelength (optical
lambdas) and spatial switching (e.g. incoming fiber to outgoing
fiber).
8. Complete work in progress for specifying the framework for IP
multicast over label switched paths.
Goals and Milestones:
| Done |
|
Submit documents from original MPLS effort to IESG |
| JAN 01 |
|
Shepherd completed MPLS specifications through IESG review
and RFC editor processing |
| FEB 01 |
|
MPLS-TE MIB ready for advancement to Proposed
Standard |
| MAR 01 |
|
Framework for IP multicast over label-switched paths ready
for advancement. |
| JUN 01 |
|
LDP fault tolerance specification ready for advancement to
Proposed Standard. |
| AUG 01 |
|
Specification for MPLS-specific recovery ready for
advancement. |
| NOV 01 |
|
Base MPLS Proposed Standard RFCs ready for advancement to
Draft Standard. |
| DEC 01 |
|
LDP end-to-end LSP authentication ready for advancement to
Proposed Standard. |
Selected Request For Comments:
Requirements for Traffic Engineering Over MPLS (RFC
2702) (68386 bytes)
Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture (RFC
3031) (147175 bytes)
MPLS
Label Stack Encoding (RFC 3032) (48314 bytes)
Use
of Label Switching on Frame Relay Networks Specification (RFC
3034) (53176 bytes)
MPLS
using LDP and ATM VC Switching (RFC 3035) (46463
bytes)
LDP Specification (RFC 3036) (274855
bytes)
LDP Applicability (RFC 3037) (13601
bytes)
VCID Notification over ATM link for LDP (RFC
3038) (39134 bytes)
The
Assignment of the Information Field and Protocol Identifier in the
Q.2941 Generic Identifier and Q.2957 User-to-user Signaling for the
Internet Protocol (RFC 3033) (52188 bytes)
MPLS
Loop Prevention Mechanism (RFC 3063) (93523 bytes)
Carrying Label Information in BGP-4 (RFC
3107) (16442 bytes)
RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels (RFC
3209) (132264 bytes)
Applicability Statement for Extensions to RSVP for
LSP-Tunnels (RFC 3210) (17691 bytes)
Constraint-Based LSP Setup using LDP (RFC
3212) (87591 bytes)
Applicability Statement for CR-LDP (RFC
3213) (14489 bytes)
LSP
Modification Using CR-LDP (RFC 3214) (25453 bytes)
LDP
State Machine (RFC 3215) (117278 bytes)
MPLS
Support of Differentiated Services (RFC 3270) (137960
bytes)
Framework for IP Multicast in MPLS (RFC
3353) (65860 bytes)
Latest MPLS News:
GNU zMPLS 
