1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,750 In this lesson, we're going to talk about MPLS. 2 00:00:03,750 --> 00:00:06,810 MPLS or the Multiprotocol Label Switching 3 00:00:06,810 --> 00:00:08,490 is a sophisticated technique 4 00:00:08,490 --> 00:00:09,930 that is leveraged by service providers 5 00:00:09,930 --> 00:00:13,500 to elevate the efficiency and flexibility of their networks. 6 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:15,870 Now, most of us are not going to be working with MPLS 7 00:00:15,870 --> 00:00:18,150 unless we're working for an internet service provider 8 00:00:18,150 --> 00:00:21,030 or some other large backend service provider. 9 00:00:21,030 --> 00:00:22,500 But it's still important to understand 10 00:00:22,500 --> 00:00:23,970 the basic concept behind it, 11 00:00:23,970 --> 00:00:26,370 which is why we're going to cover it in this lesson. 12 00:00:26,370 --> 00:00:27,960 Now, when it comes to MPLS, 13 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,060 it really does operate behind the scenes, 14 00:00:30,060 --> 00:00:32,580 but it has an impact on the performance and adaptability 15 00:00:32,580 --> 00:00:34,560 of your network infrastructures. 16 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,530 Now, MPLS isn't just another networking protocol though, 17 00:00:37,530 --> 00:00:39,390 it's actually a different type of approach 18 00:00:39,390 --> 00:00:41,760 that reshapes how data packets are routed 19 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,610 to ensure swift, reliable, and dynamic data delivery 20 00:00:44,610 --> 00:00:46,887 across many complex network types. 21 00:00:46,887 --> 00:00:49,590 At its core, MPLS is about streamlining 22 00:00:49,590 --> 00:00:52,080 and speeding up the data traffic flow. 23 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,850 Traditional IP routing involves 24 00:00:53,850 --> 00:00:56,220 each router making independent decisions based 25 00:00:56,220 --> 00:00:58,230 on the next hop for a given packet. 26 00:00:58,230 --> 00:01:00,900 This is done based on the packet's destination IP address 27 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:02,970 and the router's own routing table. 28 00:01:02,970 --> 00:01:04,950 Now, this process is very reliable, 29 00:01:04,950 --> 00:01:06,870 but it can be time consuming, 30 00:01:06,870 --> 00:01:09,630 especially in larger, more complex networks. 31 00:01:09,630 --> 00:01:12,120 And this is why MPLS was created. 32 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,730 MPLS was created to overhaul this process 33 00:01:14,730 --> 00:01:17,760 by introducing a concept known as label switching. 34 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,830 Instead of pouring over lengthy IP headers 35 00:01:19,830 --> 00:01:20,940 and routing tables, 36 00:01:20,940 --> 00:01:23,850 MPLS routers, or label switch routers as they're known, 37 00:01:23,850 --> 00:01:27,030 just forward packets based on short path labels. 38 00:01:27,030 --> 00:01:28,710 Let's talk about how this works. 39 00:01:28,710 --> 00:01:30,810 First, there's a label assignment. 40 00:01:30,810 --> 00:01:33,360 When a data packet enters the MPLS network, 41 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,520 the ingress router is going to sign it a label, 42 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,460 which is essentially a short, fixed length identifier. 43 00:01:38,460 --> 00:01:39,750 This label will encapsulate 44 00:01:39,750 --> 00:01:41,550 the packet's forwarding information, 45 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:44,400 and it's a bit like slapping a concise, clear address label 46 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,650 on a package before mailing it off. 47 00:01:46,650 --> 00:01:48,960 Second, we have label switching. 48 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,720 Now, as the packet travels through the MPLS network, 49 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,910 core routers, which are label switch routers, 50 00:01:53,910 --> 00:01:55,050 will simply look at the label 51 00:01:55,050 --> 00:01:56,517 to make their forwarding decisions. 52 00:01:56,517 --> 00:01:57,870 The router uses the label 53 00:01:57,870 --> 00:01:59,580 to look up simple forwarding tables, 54 00:01:59,580 --> 00:02:01,380 and then determine the packets next hop, 55 00:02:01,380 --> 00:02:02,790 and then it will add a label to attach 56 00:02:02,790 --> 00:02:04,320 for the next part of its journey. 57 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,230 This process is much faster than traditional IP routing, 58 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:09,990 because it avoids those complex route look ups. 59 00:02:09,990 --> 00:02:12,270 Third, we have the label removal. 60 00:02:12,270 --> 00:02:14,220 Once the packet reaches the egress router, 61 00:02:14,220 --> 00:02:16,590 which is the exit point of the MPLS network, 62 00:02:16,590 --> 00:02:17,850 the label will be removed 63 00:02:17,850 --> 00:02:19,830 and the packet will then be forwarded again based 64 00:02:19,830 --> 00:02:21,690 on its original IP header. 65 00:02:21,690 --> 00:02:23,220 So when you think about MPLS, 66 00:02:23,220 --> 00:02:24,900 think about it like an expressway. 67 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:27,360 It's going to allow you to get on or off at certain points, 68 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,770 but not at every single router, 69 00:02:28,770 --> 00:02:30,810 because not every router will support it. 70 00:02:30,810 --> 00:02:32,820 So MPLS will get it as close as it can, 71 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:33,870 and then it'll put it back 72 00:02:33,870 --> 00:02:36,390 into the regular IP routing network. 73 00:02:36,390 --> 00:02:39,000 Now, one of the standout features of using MPLS 74 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,580 is that it is protocol agnostic in nature. 75 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:43,860 What this means is that it is multiprotocol, 76 00:02:43,860 --> 00:02:44,850 because it really doesn't care 77 00:02:44,850 --> 00:02:46,530 what type of data it's carrying. 78 00:02:46,530 --> 00:02:49,590 Instead, it can carry ethernet frames, ATM cells, 79 00:02:49,590 --> 00:02:51,120 or something else entirely, 80 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,060 because MPLS treats them all the exact same way, 81 00:02:54,060 --> 00:02:57,120 it slaps the label on it and it moves it across the network. 82 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,820 This versatility makes MPLS an ideal choice 83 00:02:59,820 --> 00:03:02,190 for integrating diverse types of network and services, 84 00:03:02,190 --> 00:03:03,600 which is why it's used so heavily 85 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,990 by internet service providers and backend service providers. 86 00:03:06,990 --> 00:03:08,790 MPLS is also a wonderful tool 87 00:03:08,790 --> 00:03:12,240 for delivering high levels of quality of service or QoS. 88 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,850 Because MPLS can enforce traffic engineering, 89 00:03:14,850 --> 00:03:17,460 it allows your service providers to define explicit paths 90 00:03:17,460 --> 00:03:18,960 for different types of traffic, 91 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,200 and this ensures the optimal use of their network resources. 92 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,480 For instance, high priority data packets 93 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,160 like voice and video conferencing 94 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,350 can be assigned to low latency routes, 95 00:03:28,350 --> 00:03:30,510 while less time-sensitive data like email 96 00:03:30,510 --> 00:03:32,460 can take a more scenic route through the network 97 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:34,740 and eventually get to its destination. 98 00:03:34,740 --> 00:03:39,000 Moreover, MPLS offers enhanced reliability and redundancy. 99 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,320 It allows us to have mechanisms 100 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,570 for automatic and rapid rerouting of traffic 101 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:45,540 in case a link or node fails, it can minimize downtime, 102 00:03:45,540 --> 00:03:48,270 and it can ensure continuous data flow for us. 103 00:03:48,270 --> 00:03:50,550 This ability to dynamically reroute traffic based 104 00:03:50,550 --> 00:03:53,370 on your current network conditions and the path availability 105 00:03:53,370 --> 00:03:55,980 is also a great tool for maintaining high performance 106 00:03:55,980 --> 00:03:57,780 and service continuity. 107 00:03:57,780 --> 00:03:59,700 Now, MPLS is predominantly a tool 108 00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:01,680 that's used by large service providers, 109 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,140 but the effects of it do trickle down to us 110 00:04:04,140 --> 00:04:06,240 as end users and home users, 111 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,940 because we can see improved service quality, reliability, 112 00:04:08,940 --> 00:04:12,990 and performance from our ISP because of their use of MPLS. 113 00:04:12,990 --> 00:04:15,570 MPLS does operate quietly behind the scenes, 114 00:04:15,570 --> 00:04:17,579 but its role in shaping efficient, robust, 115 00:04:17,579 --> 00:04:20,490 and agile networks is truly undeniable. 116 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:23,250 So remember, MPLS is a pivotal technology 117 00:04:23,250 --> 00:04:24,990 in our modern network infrastructures 118 00:04:24,990 --> 00:04:28,500 that is known for speed, efficiency, and flexibility. 119 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:29,790 By using MPLS, 120 00:04:29,790 --> 00:04:32,130 you're going to go above a traditional IP routing 121 00:04:32,130 --> 00:04:34,170 and offer more streamlined dynamic ways 122 00:04:34,170 --> 00:04:37,230 of handling data traffic by using labeling instead. 123 00:04:37,230 --> 00:04:38,970 Whenever you hear the term MPLS, 124 00:04:38,970 --> 00:04:41,370 I want you to think about label routing. 125 00:04:41,370 --> 00:04:43,590 As our networks continue to grow in complexity 126 00:04:43,590 --> 00:04:44,580 and we have more demand 127 00:04:44,580 --> 00:04:47,010 for high quality, uninterrupted services, 128 00:04:47,010 --> 00:04:50,070 technologies like MPLS will really stand at the forefront 129 00:04:50,070 --> 00:04:51,960 to ensure that our interconnected world remains 130 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,310 not just operational, 131 00:04:53,310 --> 00:04:56,670 but optimally routing all of this traffic using labels. 132 00:04:56,670 --> 00:04:58,590 So whether you're streaming a live event, 133 00:04:58,590 --> 00:05:00,570 conducting a critical business meeting or a video, 134 00:05:00,570 --> 00:05:03,390 or simply enjoying a smooth internet browsing experience, 135 00:05:03,390 --> 00:05:06,240 that silent, swift, and efficiency of MPLS 136 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,430 is really the integral part of your digital journey 137 00:05:08,430 --> 00:05:10,180 that's happening behind the scenes.