GMPLS Technologies

Book excerpt: Multi-Protocol Label Switch (MPLS) and Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) are key technologies for next-generation IP backbone networks. Until now, however, engineers have been forced to search for technical papers on this subject and read them in an ad-hoc manner. At last there is a book that explains both MPLS and GMPLS concepts in a systematic way. GMPLS Technologies: Broadband Backbone Networks and Systems addresses the basic concepts, network architectures, protocols, and traffic engineering needed to operate MPLS and GMPLS networks. The book begins with an introduction of the nature and requirements of broadband networks. It describes the basics of control-oriented networks and Internet Protocol (IP). The text then examines the fundamentals of MPLS, explaining why MPLS is preferable to IP packet-based forwarding. This volume covers MPLS applications, details IP router structures, illustrates GMPLS, and explores important studies on traffic engineering in GMPLS Networks. The text concludes with a description of IP, MPLS, and GMPLS standardization topics. Network equipment design engineers and network service provision engineers can reference this book to understand the crucial techniques for building MPLS/GMPLS-based networks. Features Addresses the basic concepts, network architectures, protocols, and traffic engineering needed to operate MPLS and GMPLS networks Covers the fundamentals of connection-oriented networks including TCP/IP, flow control mechanism, and ATM protocol Analyzes MPLS issues and applications, such as label switched paths (LSPs) and VPNs Highlights IP router structures, examining technologies of data path function - switch architecture, packet scheduling, and forwarding engine Explores multi-layer traffic engineering, survivable networks, and wavelength-routed optical networks Demonstrates GMPLS-based routers