MicroNugget: What is Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)?

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In this video, Keith Barker explains how to use MPLS instead of IP forwarding on a packet-by-packet basis. Applications that depend on MPLS infrastructures like Layer 3 VPNs and pseudo-wires need administrators trained in using labels instead of IP addresses to make data forwarding decisions.
These days, there’s not much of a speed difference between MPLS and IP forwarding, but when MPLS infrastructures are optimized, many network-based applications can run much better. There are four steps to follow when setting up an MPLS infrastructure, and CBT Nuggets’ Keith Barker explains each step. First, assign every route in the route table a number. Next, use the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) to share those labels across the network. Then, build a label-based forwarding table. Lastly, forward pings and requests using the labels. Learn why these steps are important and how to make sure each router on a network is optimized for MPLS.
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[@KeithBarker]

:)
The biggest benefits are the applications that use it, such as L3 VPNs, that couldn't do what they do, without the label switching going on behind the scenes.

[@seadberberovic9789]

finally someone that explained which label (the left or the right one) the router picks for a certain network. and the "show mpls forwarding-table ..." explained more than hours that i spent watching other videos...thanks..

[@jayk5323]

Wzqqe

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks Danny-
I appreciate the feedback.
Best wishes,
Keith

[@KeithBarker]

Hi Peter-
That is a great question. MPLS, all on its own, probably wouldn't be enough content for a full series.
On the other hand, MPLS applications, (things that we can do because MPLS is present), such as AToM, Pseudowires, L3 VPNs, Traffic Engineering, etc could take entire volumes. In the IPv6 series at CBT Nuggets, we address some of these applications that can be used to tunnel IPv6 over an MPLS network.
Thanks,
Keith

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad the video was helpful.
Best wished,
Keith Barker

[@KeithBarker]

Music to my ears. Glad the video was useful to you.
Best wishes,
Keith

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks Aren. I appreciate the feedback.
Best wishes,
Keith Barker

[@KeithBarker]

Hi SevenStar-
Thanks for the feedback. We have an IPv6 series at CBT Nuggets (just finished it), that contains a full Nuggets on MPLS, L3VPNs, AToM and Pseudowire.
Thanks for the feedback.
Keith

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks for the question. In this video, I used SecureCRT as a terminal emulator to connect to and issue the commands on the routers.
Thanks again for the question-
Keith

[@yfcvtiybr]

Thank you!
Thats guy is very fast. I'm not about the spech, I'm about the quantity of information.
Every few words gives a lot of information.

[@KeithBarker]

You are very welcome. Thanks for the feedback, and best wishes on your CCIE!
Sincerely,
Keith

[@deepaknarayan3713]

Keith Barker!! I can remember that voice. It's so great to hear it again after such a long time. Hope you're doing well. Just discovered your TH-cam channel!! Awesome!

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks for the feedback!
Best wishes,
Keith

[@bhattbhaumik3266]

clean, concise and to the point. Perfect

[@badactadar96]

What a coincidence! I was just trying to have a quick overview on mpls and try to understand it as i am working now working on my ccnp and was having this strong feeling that not knowing about mpls was becoming an itch i had to try to scratch. And i got it know!
Keith you're so amazing!

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks for the feedback!
Keith

[@DaveTheUseless]

Watched a vid on another channel about MPLS, and I couldn't make head nor tail of it. Saw this video in my recommendeds, and things are already making a lot more sense. Thank you!

[@keithbarker4353]

Hi Louis-
You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Best wishes,
Keith

[@rdshenai]

Keith Barker are we doing anything around SD WAN?

[@KeithBarker]

Hi-
MPLS networks operate faster when not using a router with number "3" in it. ;)
Just kidding of course.
I have a larger version of this topology, with a 3rd site, and use the #3 for the PE-3 that links to that third site.
Thanks or the feedback and the question.
Best wishes,
Keith Barker

[@L-81]

There is no better video about MPLS - Thanks.

[@fightbackmatix]

You have great hand writing Keith :) Thanks for the MPLS micro nugget :D It was wonderful!
I always thought that MPLS could only be done by expensive devices. Now from you video, I know the even a cisco IOS router (in GNS3) should do fine!

[@kimberly3052]

You finally broke open this topic for me Keith, thanks!

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks Laura!
Keith

[@wtevo8881]

Another great Nugget Keith. Always explain topics clearly and in an interesting way

[@sybex200]

i am preparing for ccie and this topic its not easy.thank you.

[@cbtnuggets]

You're welcome! If you have any ideas for a MicroNugget, leave them in the link found in the description!

[@MrSevenStarMantis]

MPLS is always cool, great nugget. I hope you will do whole series about it ... Someday :) Cheers

[@SuperLameRanger]

Nice explanation... much better than others. It makes me understand a lot, at the same time its not a boring talk. :) thank you.
*sorry for my broken english*

[@anthonyg934]

Now that's a tute with testing shown clearly. Thank you.

[@cissiechensarabadu9145]

makes so much sense now! thx for sharing

[@rockinron5113]

Nice one Keith. Legend!

[@doctordave3586]

Greally good little nugget, well explained and short! Thanks.

[@jovan88]

Amazing video, you make it sound so simple and easy to understand

[@AyeHarold]

you the real OG keith!

[@TheLithGH]

Thanks Keith!!!

[@hirushanganegoda8249]

Hey thanx man... Very helpful video to understand how MPLS works... Thank you very much :)

[@AkashKothawale]

Saved lotta time. Thanks Keith.

[@pikopiko18]

FANTASTIC.

[@cbtnuggets]

Glad you think so!

[@dannyalvendia7061]

Nice. Thanks Keith!

[@juliantambwe8551]

right on point, thanks.

[@muhammad.rafi2012]

hey Keith, I wanted to say thank for the MPLS fundamental series which I finished today, but will need to setup the lab and do it again, I am wondering when you going to release the advance mpls vidoes, like QoS TE etc.

[@KeithBarker]

Hi Muhammad-
I have several courses in the queue before that one, but we are hoping the intermediate/advanced MPLS course will be created in 2015.
Thank you for your interest!
Keith

[@muhammad.rafi2012]

thanks Keith hope all goes well, thanks for all your hard work

[@Eewokney]

Thx for the nugget, was very helpful. but what happened to P3?

[@PeterRiad]

Very Nice, but why there is no total series about MPLS ?

[@faisalak7]

thats great many thanks

[@demisous]

thanx a lot keith!!! your the best !!!!! :DDDD

[@plopperator]

very good. I finally bloody get it!!!

[@david_108]

just amazing review

[@mali-ke5xq]

thanks Keith

[@sybex200]

thank you keith but my big headache is qos,i am not working in a cisco enviroment so no experience with qos.

[@TheAdminaaron]

love it, keep it coming

[@onepointsixoneeightzero2374]

THANKS GREAT TUTORIAL

[@louisscaringella]

This is a great video. Thank you.

[@ShuffleMind]

I like it, thanks for effective lesson

[@marrngtn]

great video

[@sheshagirirao8758]

Hello Keith , how does MPLS treat multicast traffic ? Thanks in advance

[@sonycjohn]

Thank you Sir.

[@timothykeltron3447]

Question - So for this lab - PE1, P4, P5, P6, PE2. After you assigned IP Addresses on their interfaces.... did you only configure MPLS or did you have to configure some other routing protocol (RIP. OSP) or static to make them communicate?

[@shubhammishra3362]

Each router share its own label with it's directly connected neighbours right?

[@hailua911]

thank you very much

[@bokakene]

Nothing to say......speechless.......

[@ITsupportian]

Sounds like it works like a MAC-Address when fwding information

[@akindeleadebayo6504]

Yes, just like using MAC addresses in switches in LAN

[@Taurus.x85]

awesome

[@phoonjzc]

Hi Keith, for show mpls forwarding-table, my next hop shows pointtopoint instead of the actual ip address. What could be the problem?

[@JohnLumapaskeith]

Time to Tinker! :D

[@madhanc606]

can anyone explain what is mpls is simple manner

[@plopperator]

although I still don't know the advantage of it :D

[@cybercyberlearner]

please stop changing the topology in your courses over and over...

[@KeithBarker]

Thanks for the feedback!
Keith