“Technology of the Month” is MPLS! Read More About it Here!

Multi-Protocol Label Switching is AeroCom’s Technology of the Month for November. We are here to answer some of the most common questions about MPLS and help you decide if it is beneficial for your company. First of all, what exactly is MPLS? MPLS is a type of mechanism for routing your traffic within a telecommunications network. Data travels from one network node to the next. MPLS can provide applications that include VPN’s, Traffic engineering and Quality of Service. 

So how does MPLS work? MPLS runs through packets directed within the network all based on an assigned label. Each label is assigned to a predetermined path throughout the network which will lead to a higher level of control. MPLS has evolved to allow control over the network routing creating a point-to-point connection that is virtual, flexible and more cost effective than physical wires and t1 lines.

“Label switching” in MPLS is another common question that comes up. So what is it exactly? As the packets travel through the network, their labels are switched or swapped. Within each router, the incoming label is examined and it matched with a new label. The old label is then replaced with the new label for the packet’s next destination, then the new label is sent to the next router. Each router repeats this process until the packet reaches an egress router. This keeps the packet moving along the Label Switched Path or LSP.

When making the switch from Carrier Ethernet to MPLS, you may wonder what the difference is. MPLS in general terms, has more ability to control network dynamics and greater scalability. Overall though, both do offer cost reduction per bit of data.

For more information about MPLS or to hear about your November promotion and giveaway, contact AeroCom today!