MPLS – IP Core / Ethernet Edge

Operators looking to improve network performance, yet retain the cost-effectiveness of Ethernet services frequently look to either IP or MPLS for their core networking infrastructure.  These higher level protocols provide additional features but do increase cost.

Pros

• Traffic engineering/routing features
• Increased resilience – MPLS and IP routing provides faster failover, load-sharing, and eliminate blocking created by spanning tree
• Multi-service capability – ability to tunnel or bridge foreign protocols across the network transparently

Cons

• Increased Cost
• Increased Complexity
• Still no end-to-end QoS capability

Utilizing layer-3 protocols (IP) or MPLS provides a significant increase in network performance, increased manageability, and reliability.  To minimize the higher expense of equipment with these capabilities, less expensive Ethernet gear (layer-2) can still be utilized at the edge. The tradeoff is clear – lower cost, but no ability to extend hard QoS all the way to the edge of the network.  Depending on the services being provided, this design may meet your customers’ current needs.