[Chapter-delegates] MPLS and T-MPLS

[Narelle Clark]

> From: Franck Martin
> Sent: Thursday, 6 September 2007 5:44 AM
> 
> http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/083007-mpls.html

Thanks Frank!

What a pile of silliness!!!!

In summary, the ITU has proposed one standard for "T-MPLS" and the IETF
has "MPLS" and, while it's not mentioned, the IEEE has "PBT". T-MPLS is
supposed to integrate well with ASON and GMPLS (both unfinished optical
equipment standards) that will **ideally** allow you to signal all sorts
of exciting things to the equipment and hence get different bandwidths,
QoS etc on demand. The big gap with Ethernet at present in carrier
networks is a serious lack of OA&M features, ie operations,
administration and maintenance - not traditionally one of the IETF's
strong points.

The commentary so far has indicated compatibility between T-MPLS and
MPLS, but I hadn't realised they were using the same ethertype as an
existing MPLS [1] type to depict something else again.

It certainly seems the ITU has  tried to make a standard when they
haven't read the other standards already in place, indeed are widely
implemented around the world. Or at least not argued their cause through
the existing standards. 

It's an entirely silly concept that 'it won't matter as T-MPLS will only
be used in carrier networks'. Do they think carriers don't use MPLS??
How funny.

So any gains achieved by using low cost transmission gear doing a classy
ethernet will be completely negated by the fact you can't plug them into
an MPLS network without extra encapsulation and segregation... There
goes the lower header size of T-MPLS over PBT...[2] [3]


Narelle





[1]
Personally I always thought MPLS was a bit of a kludge, but that is my
purist thinking preferring 'real IP addresses' (ie public) and the
topological elegance of a well routed network... But I suppose I'm used
to it now and see the many benefits of layer 3 VPNs... But that pseudo
wire business clearly shows someone has their OSI model upside down
(layer 2 over layer 3 running on another layer 2!).

[2] 20b vs 64b in PBT

[3] I could have completely misread all of these... LOL


Narelle Clark |   t: +61 2 8082 7035  | 
Vice President ISOC-AU
 

"When it comes to technology, most people over-estimate it in the short
term and under-estimate it in the longer term."  Arthur C. Clarke [no
relation]

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