What is now known as MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) began about ten years ago with the name 'tag switching' as a proposal from Cisco to provide a series of additional capabilities to the traditional internet data transmission protocol. The goal was to replace the earlier frame relay and ATM protocols with something simpler, faster, easier to implement while getting rid of some little used complexity.
In the ensuing years MPLS has grown rapidly and appears to be the standard for the future. It is a data-carrying mechanism which emulates some properties of a circuit-switched network over a packet-switched network.
This book is a general introduction to MPLS aimed at the CTO, IT manager, network managers, and service provider product managers. It first presents a business case for using MPLS, and then gives a technical case. After this (about the first quarter of the book) the book provides more detailed technical information about MPLS, its capabilities, and uses.
All in all, this is an excellent start to a new and growing technology. |
MPLS and Next-Generation Networks: Foundations for NGN and Enterprise Virtualization (Network Business) Books In Print, Audio Books.