Enterprises today have numerous options to decide from while establishing connectivity between different offices or network elements. MPLS and leased line connectivity are two most popular technologies as most internet service providers recommend one of these two solutions to their clients. 

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a routing technique in telecommunications networks that directs data from one node to the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, thus avoiding complex lookups in a routing table and speeding traffic flows.

The increasing need for faster packet routing gave rise to MPLS in the 1990s. Today, MPLS is capable of encapsulating the network layer grouping along with short as well as long labels. In spite of developments and improvements in hardware technology over the years, MPLS may have lost its initial purpose, but its numerous other characteristics have ensured that this technology remains a popular option for enterprises looking at reliable network access.

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Benefits of MPLS Networking Technology

It is clear from the manner in which MPLS Network technology works that it is designed to increase efficiency while reducing the overall cost. Some other prominent benefits of MPLS are as follows:

• Better Uptime Due to Traffic Management- MPLS allows users to send data packets over alternative paths via a predefined route and wherein the packets are clearly prioritized. This helps the system run like clockwork and critical services are delivered with the best possible uptime guarantees.
• Scalability – MPLS is highly scalable as it allows businesses to add additional locations to the VPN without investing in expensive hardware infrastructure.
• Privacy – unlike an internet connection, MPLS is a private network that is not accessible to users on the internet. MPLS uses a closed user group (CUG) to ensure only your traffic crosses the network.
• Bandwidth Utilization – Because different types of traffic can be put onto the same link, users can rest assured that high-priority traffic (such as SIP) can borrow capacity from a lower priority traffic stream in case required or vice versa. This ensures optimum bandwidth utilization.

How does this MPLS works??

MPLS operates at a layer that is generally considered to lie between traditional definitions of OSI Layer 2 (data link layer) and Layer 3 (network layer), and thus is often referred to as a layer 2.5 protocol. It was designed to provide a unified data-carrying service for both circuit-based clients and packet-switching clients which provide a datagram service model. It can be used to carry many different kinds of traffic, including IP packets, as well as native ATM, SONET, and Ethernet frames.

In an MPLS setup, each data packet is assigned a label and all packet forwarding decisions are based on this label. This eliminates any need to examine the contents of the packet and users can create comprehensive circuits across different types of transports with any protocol. This characteristic also reduces the network’s dependence on one specific data link layer technology like ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) Ethernet, or SONET (synchronous optical networking).

The packet labels are associated with a predetermined path as they transverse through the network. Users can define these paths with respect to different QoS features and priorities. In other words, MPLS allows users the control of network routing by creating paths that function like point-to-point connections within your network while being flexible at the same time.

Business Requirements

Leased lines are designed to offer dedicated point-to-point connectivity. Therefore, they are not designed to cater to complex network requirements. MPLS can offer both one-to-many and point-to-point connectivity thereby, catering to multiple business requirements.

For more clarity, we at Layots can help you assess your current and future network requirements to arrive at a more informed decision. You can contact us directly or chat with us and our experts will get in touch with you for an initial consultation.