Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a label switching technology that provides the ability to set up connection-oriented paths over a connectionless IP network. MPLS facilitates network traffic flow and provides a mechanism to engineer network traffic patterns independently from routing tables. MPLS sets up a specific path for a sequence of packets. The packets are identified by a label inserted into each packet. MPLS is not enabled by default and must be explicitly enabled.
MPLS is independent of any routing protocol but is considered multiprotocol because it works with the Internet Protocol (IP) and frame relay network protocols.
The 7210 SAS routers enable service providers to deliver virtual private networks (VPNs) and Internet access using MPLS tunnels, with Ethernet interfaces.
On the 7210 SAS-K 2F6C4T and 7210 SAS-K 3SFP+ 8C, is designed to fit into a network using the principles of seamless MPLS architecture which enable access devices with smaller IP routing scale (both control-plane RIB and FIB) and smaller MPLS scale (both control-plane and FIB) to be used to deploy MPLS end-to-end and benefit from the traffic engineering and resiliency mechanism that MPLS provides. The MPLS features and capabilities available on the 7210 SAS-K 2F6C4T and 7210 SAS-K 3SFP+ 8C are described in this user guide.