All About Cisco MPLS

Basic MPLS Concepts

• MPLS is a new forwarding mechanism in which packets are forwarded based on labels
• Labels may correspond to IP destination networks (equal to traditional IP forwarding)
• Labels can also correspond to other parameters (QoS, source address, etc.)
• MPLS was designed to support forwarding of other protocols as well

Presentation and Trainings
Introduction to MPLS PDF
Introduction to MPLS VPN PDF Video
Cisco MPLS Concepts PDF/Slides/Video
Application of Label Switched Multicast for Video Delivery
Building Enterprise MPLS Networks PDF
MPLS Developments and Advanced Concepts PDF
MPLS Traffic Engineering – Traffic Protection Using Fast Re-route (FRR) PDF
MPLS VPNs and Security PDF
Troubleshooting MPLS Networks PDF
Understanding How Routes are propagated in an MPLS VPN PDF
Configuring Simple MPLS VPNs – PDF

E-Learning Modules on MPLS VPN Technology
Introducing VPNs
Understanding MPLS Traffic Engineering Concepts
Configuring Small-Scale Routing Protocols Between PE and CE Routers
Advanced_MPLS_Traffic_Engineering__CourseWare_Configuration .Zip
MPLS Frame-Mode MPLS Lab CourseWare and ConfigurationFiles .Zip
MPLS_Concepts .Zip
MPLS_Initial_MPLS_VPN_Setup_CourseWare_Configuration .Zip
MPLS_Internet_Connectivity_Through_Route_Leaking_CourseWare_Configuration .Zip
MPLS_Internet_in_a_VPN_CourseWare_Configuration .Zip
MPLS_Network_Management_VPN_Topology_Configuration .Zip
MPLS_Overlapping_VPN_Topology_Configuration .Zip
MPLS_Separate_Interface_for_Internet_Connectivity_Configuration .Zip
Traffic_Engineering_in_MPLS_VPN_Environment_CourseWare_Configuration .Zip

If you have access to Cisco PEC (Partner Education Center) website, then here are few labs you can do online.
1. Advanced MPLS Traffic Engineering – Challenge Lab
2. MPLS Frame-Mode MPLS Configuration – Challenge Lab
3. MPLS Initial MPLS VPN Setup – Challenge Lab
4. MPLS Internet Connectivity Through Route Leaking – Challenge
5. MPLS Internet in a VPN – Challenge Lab
6. MPLS Network Management VPN Topology – Challenge
7. MPLS Overlapping VPN Topology – Challenge Lab
8. MPLS Running OSPF Between PE and CE Routers – Challenge Lab
9. MPLS Separate Interface for Internet Connectivity – Challenge Lab
10. MPLS Traffic Engineering in MPLS VPN Environment – Challenge Lab

Exams :
Implementing Cisco MPLS 642-611 MPLS
BGP + MPLS Exam 642-691 BGP + MPLS
MPLS Set 1 Practice Test
MPLS Set 2 Practice Test
Multi Player Game on MPLS and various other technologies

Books:
MPLS and VPN Architectures
MPLS and VPN Architectures, Vol. II

MPLS Q&A
MPLS FAQ For Beginners
Cisco Any Transport over MPLS Q&A
Cisco MPLS Tunnel Builder Q&A
MPLS for Managed Shared Services – Q&A
Cisco IOS MPLS Embedded Management Q&A

Design Guide
Cisco MPLS Tunnel Builder Product Details
MPLS Bandwidth Protection Brochure
MPLS Class of Service (CoS)
MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE)—Automatic Bandwidth Adjustment for TE Tunnels 
MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE)—Automatic Bandwidth Adjustment for TE Tunnels 
MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE)—Configurable Path Calculation Metric for Tunnels 
MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE)—IP Explicit Address Exclusion 
MPLS Traffic Engineering and Enhancements
MPLS Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
MPLS Virtual Private Networks (VPN) – Enhancements
MPLS VPN—Carrier Supporting Carrier 
MPLS VPN—Carrier Supporting Carrier—IPv4 BGP Label Distribution 
Changes in RSVP Debug Commands in Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0(24)S and Later
DiffServ Tunneling Modes for MPLS Networks
MPLS/VPN with EIGRP on the Customer Side Configuration Example
The Traceroute Command in MPLS
Cisco IOS MPLS High Availability: Component and Management
Network Integration with MPLS: MPLS High Availability

Configuration Guide
Configuring a Basic MPLS VPN
Configuring Basic MPLS Using IS-IS
Configuring Basic MPLS Using OSPF
Configuring MPLS Basic Traffic Engineering Using IS-IS
Configuring MPLS Basic VPN with RIP on Customer Side
Configuring VPN MPLS over ATM with Cisco 7500 Routers and LightStream 1010 Switches
DiffServ Tunneling Modes for MPLS Networks
GRE Tunnel with VRF Configuration Example
Implementing an MPLS VPN over TE Tunnels
Inter-AS MPLS VPN Configuration with VPNv4 eBGP Sessions Between ASBRs
Internet Access from an MPLS VPN Using a Global Routing Table
MPLS Basic Traffic Engineering Using OSPF Configuration Example
MPLS Command Guide
Multicast Support for MPLS VPNs Configuration Example

Troubleshooting
MPLS Troubleshooting
Changes in RSVP Debug Commands in Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0(24)S and Later
DiffServ Tunneling Modes for MPLS Networks
How to Troubleshoot the MPLS VPN
Implementing an MPLS VPN over TE Tunnels
MPLS/VPN with EIGRP on the Customer Side Configuration Example
The Traceroute Command in MPLS
Troubleshooting LSP Failure in MPLS VPN

MPLS Management
Cisco IOS MPLS Embedded Management Application Note
Cisco IOS MPLS Management Business Overview (PDF – 4 MB)
Cisco IOS MPLS Management Technical Deployment Overview (PDF – 2 MB)
Cisco IOS MPLS Management Technology Overview (PDF – 2 MB)
Cisco Multiprotocol Label Switching Management Strategy
Mulitprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label Switching Routers (LSR) have the MPLS-LSR-MIB to provide label switching information.

Refer to this table:

Table Name	SNMP Object	Purpose
MPLS Interface Configuration Table	mplsInterfaceConfTable	Provides information for each MPLS-capable interface on an LSR.
MPLS Interface Performance Table	mplsInterfacePerfTable	Augments the MPLS interface configuration table.
MPLS In-Segment Table	mplsInSegmentTable	Contains a description of incoming segments (labels) at an LSR and their associated parameters.
MPLS In-Segment Performance Table	mplsInSegmentPerfTable	Augments the MPLS in-segment table, providing performance information and counters for incoming segments on an LSR.
MPLS Out-Segment Table	mplsOutSegmentTable	Contains a description of outgoing segments from an LSR and their associated parameters.
MPLS Out-Segment Performance Table	mplsOutSegmentPerfTable	Augments the MPLS out-segment table, providing performance information and counters for outgoing segments on an LSR.
MPLS Cross-Connect Table	mplsXCTable	Associates inSegments (labels) to outSegments (labels) to show the manager how the LSR is currently swapping these labels.

White Papers
Cisco IOS MPLS Quality of Service
Deploying Guaranteed-Bandwith Services with MPLS
Internet Connectivity Options
Managed VPN – Multicast Music-On-Hold over Permanent Virtual Circuit Switched Networks
MPLS Bandwidth Protection White Paper
Positioning MPLS
Security of the MPLS Architecture
Service Definitions: Virtual Leased Lines
Service Definitions: Voice & Toll Bypass Trunking
Tunnel Builder White Paper (PDF – 1 MB)
Understanding MPLS-TP and Its Benefits
Cisco IOS Software and Multiprotocol Label Switching
IETF MPLS Charter
MPLS Bandwidth Protection (PPT – 2 MB)
MPLS for Managed Shared Services – Data Sheet
MPLS for Managed Shared Services – Customer Presentation (PPT – 2 MB)
Tunnel Builder Application Brief (PDF – 390 KB)
Tunnel Builder v1.0: A Light at the End of the Tunnel (PDF – 71 KB)

RFC
RFC 3031 – MPLS Architecture
RFC 2917 – A core MPLS IP VPN Architecture

Terminology
1. Customer Edge Router (CE)—Router at the edge of a network and that has interfaces to at least one PE router.
2. Data Multicast Distribution Tree (MDT)—Tree created dynamically by the existence of active sources in the network and that is sent to active receivers located behind separate PE routers. Data MDT connects only to PE routers that are attached to CE routers with active sources or receivers of traffic from active sources or that are directly attached to active sources or receivers of traffic.
3. Default-MDT—Tree created by the multicast virtual private network (MVPN) configuration. The Default-MDT is used for customer Control Plane and low rate Data Plane traffic. It uses Routing and Forwarding (MVRFs) to connect all of the PE routers with in a particular multicast domain (MD). One Default-MD exists in every MD whether there is any active source in the respective customer network.
4. LEAF—Describes the recipient of multicast data. The source is thought of as the route and the destination is the leaf.
5. Multicast domain (MD)—Collection of MVRFs that can exchange multicast traffic
6. Multicast Virtual Route Forwarding (MVRF)—Used by a PE router to determine how to forward multicast traffic across an MPLS core.
7. Provider Router (P)—Router in the core of the provider network that has interfaces only to other P routers and other PE routers
8. Provider Edge Router (PE)—Router at the edge of the provider network that has interfaces to other P and PE routers and to at least one CE router
9. PIM-SSM—PIM Source Specific Multicast
10. TE Tunnel: A Unidirectional Label Switched Path (LSP) across an MPLS network
12. RSVP: Resource Reservation Protocol, the protocol used to establish MPLS TE tunnels
13. RSVP-TE: RSVP extensions for MPLS TE (RFC 3209)
14. CR-LDP: Constraint-based LSP setup using LDP (RFC 3212)
15. CBR: Constraint-based routing
16. Head-end: The router initiating and MPLS TE tunnel
17. Tail-end: The router on which an MPLS TE tunnel terminates
18. PUSH : Adding a Label to Incoming Packet and also aka Label imposition
19. SWAP : Replace the label of incoming packet
20. POP : Remove the label from outgoing packet and also aka Label disposition.