What's All The Fuss About MPLS Anyway?

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Featured Article - MPLS can improve your network performance, allow for VOIP and video convergence and save money at the same time.

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MPLS Service Providers

Overview of MPLS
MPLS, or Multi-Protocol Label Switching, is rapidly replacing ATM and frame relay as the preferred technology choice to carry digital voice and high-speed data on a single connection. Not only can MPLS provide increased performance and better reliability, it often can decrease costs by increasing network efficiency. The ability to assign voice packets higher priority makes it the perfect solution for carrying VOIP traffic.

MPLS Basics
Rather than being a specific type of service, MPLS is a type of protocol. MPLS can be utilized to transport any type of circuit that a customer needs or multiple types simultaneously. It can be used on T1s, DS3s, OC3s or over Ethernet.

Packet Labeling
The ability to label data packets is the key to MPLS. In a traditional IP network, packets are routed to the correct destination based solely on the layer header in the data network. As each packet arrives at a router, the router is forced to determine where it should go next. In the traditional IP network, the individual packets are forwarded to the next destination in the same order as they arrive.

The Need for Speed
By labeling each packet as it arrives in the network, MPLS greatly speeds the routing process and in turn the speed of the entire network. Each router in a network stores information on how to handle the different types of packets as dictated by their header labels. By lightening the load on routers and freeing up resources, higher efficiencies and greater speeds are achieved.

MPLS Traffic is Not All Created Equally
Voice and Video Conferencing traffic is very real-time sensitive. If packets arrive out of sequence, video and sound can be badly distorted. To ensure high quality VOIP calls or streaming video, their packets must be given priority over other data packets. While most traditional IP networks handle all packets on a "first come, first served" basis, MPLS will prioritize those packets that are time sensitive ensuring they arrive in the correct order.

Priority Treatment
As an illustration, consider that a large e-mail attachment an employee may be sending to a customer would normally receive the same priority on the network as several simultaneous VOIP conversations. As the two streams of packets battle for priority, the quality of the VOIP conversations is very likely to degrade, perhaps to the point of disconnecting. On the other hand, an MPLS network will instantly assign higher priority to the packets used for VOIP than the packets used for the e-mail. The e-mail packets are carried over the network as bandwidth allows and the VOIP packets stream through the network in real time. The performance of the real-time application is noticeably improved and there is minimal impact on the lower priority e-mail traffic.

Networks, Much Like Life, Require Proper Priority
MPLS puts mission critical, high priority, IP traffic in the fast lane to its destination. It is all done seamlessly. There is no interaction needed by the user and their network infrastructure requires no significant changes. A true value-added service, MPLS can pay for itself every month as it helps your business run more efficiently.

 The Case For MPLS

Written by: QuoteMyT1 Staff - Feb 8, 2010

MPLS, Multi-Protocol Label Switching, is rapidly becoming the technology of choice where VOIP, video and data transmission are combined into one Internet connection. This has become known as convergence.

But, why is this? What is it about MPLS that is causing this?

Using MPLS, IT Managers are increasing network performance while lowering network costs. Where VOIP and/or video conferencing is combined with other data transmission like e-mail and Internet browsing, MPLS will yield better performance. VOIP services will not be degraded and video will be smooth and lifelike. Costs will be lowered because there will be no need to have separate connections to the Internet or separate VPNs.

MPLS does this by prioritizing data packets so that time sensitive data always arrive in the proper order with no latency between packets. Traditional IP transport will move data packets across the network on a "first in, first out" basis where all data has equal priority. E-mail packets will "get in the way of" VOIP packets causing voice degradation or even call disconnects.

To increase your network performance, improve the efficiency of your employees and lower your total telecom costs, why not order your MPLS based service today. Use our easy to use on-line form on this page or call 800-880-2001 toll free and mention Promo Code 15398. You, your employees and your customers will be glad you did.