Hands-on MPLS Internetworking

Powerful 3-day Hands on Technology Course

Course Description

MPLS is the hottest new technology to manage the QoS of converged traffic on Service Providers networks. It is much less expensive than ATM and provides even richer features and functions. The challenge is in the configuration of the technology. To get the most out of your MPLS deployment you must understand how the technology works before you can consider how to configure your vendors’ equipment. In this powerful three-day class, learn the details of the MPLS technology and how the technology works in multi-vendor network environments. Use these skills to become an expert on the configuration and troubleshooting of your MPLS enviornment.

Course Objectives

• Analyze and decode live MPLS traffic using a protocol analyzer and troubleshoot traffic delays.
• Configure Cisco routers and switches to deliver MPLS QoS, IP over MPLS and MPLS VPNs.
• Learn about MPLS VPNs, including L3VPN RFC 2547bis, and compare Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs.
• Work on case studies and practical examples on MPLS using information from Riverstone, RedBack, and Cisco Systems.
• Use OPNETs simulation software live in the classroom to design MPLS networks under multiple scenarios and troubleshoot your designs.
• Configure and analyze Layer 3 encapsulation in MPLS, including Pack Processing, L3 FEC with Policy, and IP over MPLS.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for service engineers, installers, sales engineers, technical support help desk level 2 and 3, and network engineers who work with or will soon be working with MPLS.

Prerequisites

Student prerequisites are as follows:

• TCP/IP and a basic understanding of Routing and Switching

Course Outline

• Chapter 1: Fundamentals of MPLS Networks and Data Flow
• MPLS Network Construction
  
• Data Flow in MPLS Networks
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Exercises
  
• Chapter Summary and Review
  
• Chapter 2: MPLS Label Distribution
• The Early Days of Switching
  
• MPLS Label Distribution
  
• Control of Label Distribution
  
• Triggering of Label Distribution
  
• Brief Review
  
• Protocols
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Exercises
  
• Chapter 2 Summary and Review
  
• Going Further and Links
• Chapter 3: Advanced MPLS Signaling
• Introduction to MPLS Signaling
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Exercises
  
• Chapter 3 Summary and Review
  
• Going Further and Links
  
• Chapter 4: MPLS Network Reliance and Recovery
• Introduction to MPLS Network Reliance and Recovery
  
• The Need for Network Protection
  
• Reviewing Routing
  
• Network Protection
  
• MPLS Error Detection
  
• Thrashing Links
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Chapter 4 Summary and Review
• Chapter 5: Traffic Engineering
• Introduction to MPLS Traffic Engineering
  
• Aspects of Traffic Engineering
  
• Provisioning and Subscribing
  
• Calculating How Much Bandwidth You Need
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Exercises
• Chapter 5 Summary and Review
  
• Chapter 6: MPlS and GMPLS
• Introduction to MPlS and GMPLS
  
• Where Networking Is Today
  
• Where Networking Is Going
  
• GMPLS Control Plane
  
• Is That All There Is?
  
• Standards
  
• Chapter 6 Summary and Review
• Chapter 7: MPLS in Virtual Private Networks
• Introduction to Virtual Private Networks
  
• VPN Concepts in MPLS
  
• MPLS VPN Designs
• L3VPN RFC 2547bis
  
• Comparing VPN Types
  
• Practical Applications—Riverstone’s Layer 3 Encapsulation in MPLS
  
• Chapter 7 Summary and Review
• Chapter 8: Quality of Service Meets MPLS
• Introduction to Quality of Service
  
• What Is QoS?
  
• Measuring QoS in Data Networks
  
• Mediation for Dropped Packets, Latency, and Jitter
  
• Packet Marking
  
• Reservation and Policing Protocols
  
• QoS in MPLS Networks
  
• Practical Applications
  
• Chapter 8 Summary and Review
  
• Chapter 9: Marketing
• Introduction to MPLS VPN Marketing
  
• Who: The User’s Perspective
  
• What: Money
  
• How: Approaches to Marketing and Sales
  
• Market Planning Overview
  
• Case Example
  
• Challenges
  
• Chapter 9 Summary and Review
• Chapter 10 Case Studies
• Introduction
  
• Case Study One: Redback
  
• Case Study Two
  
• Appendix A: Answers to Exercises
  
• Appendix B: Ethereal Captures
  
• Appendix C: Related Articles and List of CarriersCourse Introduction