MPLS World Congress 2007 Interoperability Event

Summary

Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has "crossed the chasm" between early adoption and significant deployment. Service providers today are using MPLS to deliver point-to-point services over interconnected backbone networks, for example, while placing increasingly complex demands and ever-larger economies of scale on these networks. Carrier-grade network operators now rely on MPLS to facilitate inter-carrier connectivity, mobile backhaul strategies, and multicast VPNs, to name only three common uses. And yet, misconfigurations and points of needed clarification persist. Clearly not all aspects of interoperability have been tested, and not all ambiguities in the standard have been resolved. This year's MPLS World Congress interoperability event in Paris focused on multiple areas of recent MPLS advances. The results further demonstrated that multi-vendor MPLS networks actually do work.

Inter-carrier Connectivity

To summarize the event's findings, inter-carrier connectivity functioned well among all participating vendors - at least one of the three options works for any combination. Basic multicast VPN implementations interworked seamlessly in most cases (although not across inter-area boundaries, there is no standard yet). End-to-end interoperability was verified using new mobile backhaul (SAToP) and encrypted pseudowire services.

Focus on Pseudowires in the Access

This is the fourth consecutive interoperability showcase that RAD has attended. As a veteran participant, RAD considers it an important venue for verifying the implementation of new emerging technologies. RAD is continuing to exhibit its industry leadership by introducing innovative Ethernet and MPLS mechanisms that use Ethernet OAM for end-to-end Ethernet path protection over a VPLS backbone." The public showcase in Paris highlighted RAD's focus on ATM, TDM, pseudowires, fault management and high-availability access solutions. RAD Data pioneered the development of pseudowire solutions for transporting legacy traffic over IP, Ethernet and MPLS packet-switched networks, having first introduced its patented and recently standardized TDMoIP® technology to the market in 1999. In the years since, RAD has added support for all additional modes of TDM emulation technology, including SAToP, CESoPSN and HDLCoPSN, and has led the way in implementing TDM and ATM pseudowires in the access. At the showcase RAD demonstrated dynamic configuration TDM pseudowires using LDP signaling. In addition, RAD demonstrated ATM pseudowire interoperability with another vendor across a multi-vendor backbone.

On-Site Support by T-Systems and Versatel

The German service providers T-Systems and Versatel reviewed the test plan and provided on-site support during the hot-stage test at the EANTC lab in Berlin. In addition to RAD, participants included Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Foundry Networks, Huawei Technologies, Ixia, MRV Communications, Redback Networks, Rohde & Schwarz SIT, Siemens, Spirent, Telco Systems, and ZTE. The interoperability event was very successful and the experience gained is priceless. We hope you find the result useful. To download your free copy of the EANTC White Paper, click on the link in the right-hand column of the page and fill out the brief registration form.