MPLS Technologies

Carrier Ethernet services can be delivered over networks based on these MPLS technologies:

• Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS)
• Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)
• MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP)

These technologies are based on MPLS standards specified by IETF and ITU-T. They all require some form of layer 1/2 transport technology between the routers.

Topologies

These technologies can operate over any physical topology:

• mesh (full and partial)
• tree
• rings

Architecture

For the purposes of Carrier Ethernet, the fundamentals of VPWS, VPLS and MPLS-TP are similar with LERs (PEs) at the network edges and LSRs (PEs) in the core.