Implementing Cisco MPLS (MPLS)

Course Prerequisites

It is recommended, but not required, to have the following skills and knowledge before attending this course:

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Cisco IOS Software configuration
• Configuring and troubleshooting EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS and BGP
• Skills and knowledge equivalent to those learned in:
  • Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices v2.0, Part 1 (ICND1) v2.0 and Part 2 (ICND2) v2.0, or
  • Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerated Version 2.0 (CCNAX) v2.0
  • Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE) v2.0
  • Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers (BGP) v4.0
  • Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks Part 1 (SPNGN1) v1.2
  • Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks Part 2 (SPNGN2) v1.2
  • Deploying Cisco Service Provider Network Routing (SPROUTE) v1.2
  • Deploying Cisco Service Provider Advanced Network Routing (SPADVROUTE) v1.2

Course Description

Enterprises and service providers face many challenges in terms of customer demand, including an ongoing need for value-added services. Conventional IP packet forwarding has several limitations, and more and more enterprise and service providers realize that something else is needed. Not only they must be concerned with protecting their existing infrastructure, but they must also find ways to generate new services that are not currently supportable using existing technologies.

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a high-performance method for forwarding packets through a network. MPLS enables routers at the edge of a network to apply simple labels to packets. This practice allows the edge devices to switch packets according to labels, with minimal lookup overhead. MPLS integrates the performance and traffic-management capabilities of data link Layer 2 with the scalability and flexibility of network Layer 3 routing. When used in conjunction with other standard technologies, MPLS gives the ability to support value-added features.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the features of MPLS
• Describe how MPLS labels are assigned and distributed
• Configure and troubleshoot Frame mode MPLS on Cisco IOS platforms
• Describe the MPLS peer to peer architecture and explain routing and packet forwarding model in this architecture
• Configure, Monitor and Troubleshoot VPN operations
• Describe how the MPLS VPN model can be used to implement managed services and internet access
• Describe the various internet access implementations that are available and the benefits and drawbacks of each model
• Describe the tasks and commands that are necessary to implement the MPLS TE

Job Roles

• Network administrators
• Network engineers
• Network managers
• Systems engineers (who would like to implement MPLS and MPLS Traffic Engineering)