Chapter 10. MPLS

Multiprotocol Label Switching Overview

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) leverages the efficiency of Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) and the intelligence provided by IP routing. CEF enables the creation of a copy of the Routing Information Base (RIB) in memory in the Cisco router or switch. This memory-based structure is called the Forwarding Information Base (FIB) and enables for remarkable packet forwarding times through what traditionally had been much slower devices.

MPLS appends a label to packets. This label can efficient forward decisions through an MPLS network. Using MPLS, the Layer 3 header information can be analyzed once as the packet enters the MPLS domain. After this single Layer 3 examination, a label can be ...

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