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Key characteristics of MPLS-TP shown in
Figure 2:
• Connection oriented platform (Pseudowire architecture)
• Client-agnostic (L1,L2,L3 clients)
• Physical layer agnostic (Not specific PMA requirements
or rates)
• Enhanced operations, administration, and maintenance
(OAM) functions
• Support for various protection schemes i.e., FEC as
in transport protocol stack
• Control Plane GMPLS is supported by MPLS-TP
client or server
• Multicasting
Scalable
Support any number
of clients within the
entire network (from
access to core)
Transport Network - OTN PIPE
Cost-Effective
Low protocol
complexity (L1/L2) with
unified management
& control across
packets
Figure 1: Different Demands made on Transport Networks
Network Stack
Management Plane
Control Plane
Data Plane
Framing/Forwarding/OAM
Protection, Restoration
Figure 2: MPLS-TP Deployment in the Network Stack
Reliable
Monitor end-to-end
performance and
connection oriented.
Strong OAM,
resiliency
Multi-Client
Support any type of
client traffic with
quality of service.
Today’s generation of FPGA devices provides a platform
for implementing advanced MPLS-TP OAM solutions
(supporting ITU-T G.8113.1 or IEFT standards). These
solutions enable communication vendors to design their
systems to be compatible with both IETE and ITU-T standards.
These system solutions will accelerate market
adoption to transition to packet transport networks. Protocol
stack like 1588v2 and SyncE are also supported
on FPGAs today, thereby providing a complete solution
stack for telecom equipment vendors.
Summary
MPLS-TP is enabling next-generation packet-based networks
by integrating the routing and transport platforms.
MPLS-TP-based architecture takes advantage of the
cost-effectiveness and ease-of-use of Pseudowire and
adds service features like flow control, Quality of Service
(QoS) and connection oriented provisioning. The
key benefit is consistent operations and OAM functions
across the entire network stack and compliance with interworking
MPLS platforms. Architecturally MPLS-TP is
highly scalable due to its multiplexing capability, which
supports multiple layers. By deploying MPLS-TP, operators
can add new services, while reducing cost significantly.
MPLS-TP specifications are well suited for aggregation
and access nodes of the network, where migration of
TDM-based network to packet-based network is occurring.
The OAM enhancements associated with MPLS-TP
will allow service providers to have better visibility within
their core network and improve overall performance.
Figure 3 illustrates how MPLS and MPLS-TP can be deployed
and their complementary nature.
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