MPLS

MPLS Features

In addition to the benfits an MPLS Private Network offers, it also provides the customer a wide range of features. These include, among others,

Class of Service (CoS)

Within a pre-defined prioritization profile, depending on the provider, several service classes, each with defined bandwidths can be specified. The respective service classes are flexible. If a service class is overloaded, it can borrow potentially free capacities from other classes. This achieves end-to-end bandwidth protection across the entire MPLS network which stabilizes important and time-critical data (e.g. VoIP) and limits less important data (e.g. Internet traffic). The benefit of this s that time-critical data can be handled as a priority.

Application Aware Network

An Application Aware Network displays network-internal applications and optimizes and accelerates work processes in MPLS. Company-critical applications are prioritized via a fixed bandwidth assignment which ensures productive operation.

This provides the following benefits:

• WAN investments are optimized in accordance with the company objectives
• The importance and minimum quality criteria of the application classes are defined
• Insight into the application capacity factors is provided
• Guaranteed application performance is a “must”
• Bandwidth increases are set to the background
• Company applications are accelerated, network costs are reduced and productivity is generated

Central Internet access

An MPLS is a closed network. There are several options for granting this network access to the public Internet. For instance, the MPLS provider can provide a so-called central Internet access. The provider provides a central firewall system for shared use at its computing center. Some providers will also operate a dedicated firewall for the respective customer upon request.

This provides the following benefits:

• Low costs at the computing center for high bandwidths
• High availability of the Internet line
• Management of the firewall is outsourced

Mobile User in an MPLS

There are several options for integrating mobile users (field agents or home office users) into the MPLS network in order to establish secure access via the Internet. Since this data is moved via the public Internet, it has to be encrypted.

The most common encryption options are as follows:

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security)

IPsec offers data encryption via the public Internet between the end user’s laptop and the IP VPN router and the hub site. A VPN software client for the end user’s laptop is provided for the set-up, administration and closure of the secured tunnel. The set-up and use of the VPN software is uncomplicated. The customer can configure the client so it can be used by a large number of users. The VPN access guidelines and configurations are downloaded by the central gateway when a connection is established and pushed to the client. This makes the installation and management of the client easier which ensures a high level of scalabilty.

SSL (Secured Socket Layer)

SSL offers data encryption between the end user’s laptop and the Central Network Gateway (CNG) on the MPLS network, which is connected to the customer’s VPN. The customer can create a number of user group roles with different access levels to the network resources. End point tests such as anti-virus programs or a firewall can be configured.

MPLS Service Provider

Provider	Product
	CompanyNet
	QSC-CompanyVPN
	Interoute MPLS VPN
	IP Corporate Plus
	IntraSelect
	VT VPN
	Ecotel Ethernet VPN
	Riedel managed MPLS VPN
	BT IP Connect Global

Tips for your MPLS network

• If you run time-critical applications via your network, only MPLS guarantees an end-to-end prioritization of your data.
• Check exactly which locations you want to have in your MPLS network. Exotic locations can become very expensive very quickly. In this case, there is an option of integrating individual sites via IPSec.
• Critical locations should always be equipped with a back-up. Ideally, the back-up line should be laid via a second building supply. If that is not possible, a media redundancy should be implemented (e.g. fiber glass/copper or fiber glass/WLL).

Costs for MPLS

The only argument against MPLS networking in the past has often been the very high costs. Over the course of the last few years, the general price decrease in the TC sector has also impacted MPLS. Today, it is often no more expensive than Internet-based site networking. Especially taking a TCO observation into account.

How high the costs for MPLS actually are, depends on a number of factors.

1. Provider

The bigger the provider’s network is, the more it can utilize its own infrastructure. Thus, the provider can often do without expensive, rented lines.

2. Location of the sites

The geographic location of the sites is very decisive with regard to the costs. In metropolitan areas, the costs for MPLS are significantly lower. Especially when a site with fiber glass is desired.

3. Quality and bandwidth of the MPLS line

Sites with a high priority are usually connected with higher bandwidths and higher quality (higher SLA). In addition, such sites often utilize a back-up.

The aforementioned points, in conjunction with the contract duration and number of sites constitute the price of an MPLS connection.