Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching

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Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) [1] is a protocol suite extending MPLS to manage further classes of interfaces and switching technologies other than packet interfaces and switching, such as time-division multiplexing, layer-2 switching, wavelength switching and fiber-switching.

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Differences between MPLS and GMPLS

Generalized MPLS differs from traditional MPLS [2] in that it extends support to multiple types of switching such as TDM, wavelength and fiber (port) switching. For instance, GMPLS is the de facto control plane of wavelength switched optical network (WSON). [3] The support for the additional types of switching has driven GMPLS to extend certain base functions of traditional MPLS and, in some cases, to add functionality.

These changes and additions impact basic label-switched path (LSP) properties: how labels are requested and communicated, the unidirectional nature of LSPs, how errors are propagated, and information provided for synchronizing the ingress and egress LSRs.

How GMPLS works

GMPLS is based on Generalized Labels. The Generalized Label is a label that can represent either (a) a single fiber in a bundle, (b) a single waveband within fiber, (c) a single wavelength within a waveband (or fiber), or (d) a set of time-slots within a wavelength (or fiber). The Generalized Label can also carry a label that represents a generic MPLS label, a Frame Relay label, or an ATM label.

GMPLS is composed of three main protocols:

See also

Related Research Articles

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HSMP LSP is hub & spoke multipoint Label Switched Path (LSP), which allows traffic both from root to leaf through point-to-multipoint (P2MP) LSP and also leaf to root along the reverse path. That means traffic entering the HSMP LSP from application/customer at the root node travels downstream to each leaf node, exactly as if it is travelling downstream along a P2MP LSP to each leaf node. Upstream traffic entering the HSMP LSP at any leaf node travels upstream along the tree to the root, as if it is unicast to the root. Direct communication among the leaf nodes is not allowed.

Deterministic Networking (DetNet) is an effort by the IETF DetNet Working Group to study implementation of deterministic data paths for real-time applications with extremely low data loss rates, packet delay variation (jitter), and bounded latency, such as audio and video streaming, industrial automation, and vehicle control.

References

  1. E. Mannie, "Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) architecture", RFC 3945, Oct. 2004, IETF.
  2. GMPLS RFC 3945 "1.2. Multiple Types of Switching and Forwarding Hierarchies"
  3. Bernstein, G. M.; Lee, Y.; Galver, A.; Martensson, J. (2009). "Modeling WDM wavelength switching systems for use in GMPLS and automated path computation". Journal of Optical Communications and Networking . 1 (1): 187–195. doi:10.1364/JOCN.1.000187. S2CID   18648649.
  4. D. Awduche, L. Berger, D. Gan, T. Li, V. Srinivasan, and G. Swallow, "RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP tunnels", RFC 3209, Dic. 2001, IETF.
  5. L. Berger, "Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions", RFC 3473, Jan. 2003, IETF.
  6. D. Katz, K. Kompella, and D. Yeung, "Traffic Engineering (TE) Extensions to OSPF Version 2 Architecture", RFC 3630, Sep. 2003, IETF.
  7. K. Kompella and Y. Rekhter, "OSPF Extensions in Support of Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS)", RFC 4203, Oct. 2005, IETF.
  8. J. Lang, "Link Management Protocol (LMP)", RFC 4204, Oct. 2005, IETF.

Further reading