MPLS - Transport Profile

MPLS-TP stands for Multiprotocol Label Switching - Transport Profile. It's a transport protocol designed to build carrier-grade networks, providing the reliability, quality of service (QoS), and recoverability expected in transport networks.

MPLS-TP is a profile of the MPLS protocol that is used in packet switched data networks. It is designed for use in networks that require deterministic behavior, high reliability, and high levels of QoS.

It is a Network Layer technology that is designed for use in transport networks. It was developed by a joint effort from the IETF and the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).

Configuration of MPLS-TP involves several steps including the creation of MPLS-TP tunnels and paths. Deployment requires a good understanding of networking principles. Here's a basic overview of the required steps:

  1. Enable MPLS: The first step is to enable MPLS on your routers. This is typically done with a command like mpls ip in global configuration mode.
  2. Configure MPLS Label Distribution Protocol (LDP): LDP is used to distribute labels to other routers in the network. This can be done using commands like mpls label protocol ldp and mpls ldp router-id.
  3. Configure MPLS-TP Tunnels: This is done using the mpls tp command followed by the tunnel ID and source/destination IP addresses.
  4. Configure MPLS-TP Paths: Paths are used to define the route that the tunnel will take through the network. This is done using the mpls tp path command followed by the path ID and the list of IP addresses that the path should take.
  5. Associate Paths with Tunnels: The final step is to associate the paths with the tunnels. This is done using the mpls tp tunnel command followed by the tunnel ID and the path ID.