White Paper

Understanding MPLS-TP and Its Benefits

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of Multiprotocol Label Switching Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), with information on
its standardization, how IP/MPLS and MPLS-TP are complementary, and the commitment of Cisco to its support. In
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addition, this paper outlines the benefits of a combined MPLS-TP and IP/MPLS-based solution, and how
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Pseudowire-based MPLS can be adopted for transport network services.

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Why MPLS-TP?
Tomorrow's network will mostly carry packets. As a result, an evolution of existing time-division multiplexing (TDM)based transport networks is taking place, and new architectures optimized to carry packets are being defined. The
function of a transport network is to carry information between service edge devices. These devices could be Digital
Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs), gateways, T1/E1 aggregators, broadband remote access servers
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(BRAS), etc. Traditional transport systems based on SDH/SONET platforms provide low-speed bandwidth granularity
network services as well as high-speed long-haul transmission services. Circuit-switched transport network services
with fixed bandwidth granularity (64 Kbps, 1.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 50 Mbps, 150 Mbps, 600 Mbps, etc.) were emulated
using connection-oriented, packet-switched (CO-PS) technologies and similar managed-bandwidth services.
However, in the access/aggregation and metro domains, there is a desire by carriers to simplify packet transport
networking in order to reduce capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational expenses (OpEx) in their next-generation
networks.
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MPLS is considered a leading connection-oriented packet transport networking technology. Recently many carriers
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have shown their desire to converge their next-generation core networks onto MPLS, and subsequently have
deployed their core networks using MPLS. Given the deployment of MPLS networks and the desire to align packet
networking with more traditional transport operations methods, Cisco is leading a large effort to standardize a
simplified version of MPLS for transport networks. This standardized approach is known as MPLS Transport Profile
(MPLS-TP) in the IETF (groups MPLS, PWE3, and CCAMP) and the ITU-T SG15.
In addition to offering traditional transport operational models for packet networking, there is a requirement to
interconnect the MPLS-based client customer network to the server operator network using MPLS in order to provide
simple managed-bandwidth services. In this case, the customer network and the operator network are managed as
independent entities (that is customer and operator), so that they can be decoupled functionally and operationally to
maintain the client-server relationship.
The MPLS-TP proposal contains a set of compatible technology enhancements to existing MPLS standards to
extend the definition of MPLS to include support for traditional transport operational models. This proposal adopts all
of the supporting quality of service (QoS) and other mechanisms already defined within the standards, but also
brings the benefits of path-based, in-band Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) protection
mechanisms found in traditional transport technologies.

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

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What is MPLS-TP?
MPLS-TP is a set of MPLS protocols that are being defined in IETF. It is a simplified version of MPLS for transport
networks with some of the MPLS functions turned off, such as Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP), Label-Switched
Paths (LSPs) merge, and Equal Cost Multi Path (ECMP). MPLS-TP does not require MPLS control plane capabilities
and enables the management plane to set up LSPs manually. Its OAM may operate without any IP layer
functionalities.
Figure 1.

Pseudowires and LSPs

Pseudowire
PSN Cloud

PSN Cloud

Native Service
(Attachment Circuit)

Native Service
(Attachment Circuit)

PW.Seg t1
CE1

TPE1

PW.Seg t2

PW.Seg t3
SPE1

TE-LSP

PW.Seg t4

TPE2

CE2

TE-LSP

Emulated Service

The essential features of MPLS-TP defined by IETF and ITU-T are:

MPLS forwarding plane with restrictions

PWE3 Pseudowire architecture

Control Plane: static or dynamic Generalized MPLS (G-MPLS)

Enhanced OAM functionality

OAM monitors and drives protection switching

Use of Generic Associated Channel (G-ACh) to support fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and
security (FCAPS) functions

Multicasting is under further study

Integration of IP/MPLS and MPLS-TP

Carriers need to converge their networks to a single infrastructure to reduce OpEx and support new IP-based
networking services as well as traditional layer 2 transport services. In the core network, most providers have already
migrated toward an IP/MPLS-based infrastructure. IP/MPLS is highly scalable and can be deployed end-to-end to
accommodate the needs of any network size.
In some cases, however, a service provider may not want to deploy a dynamic control plane based on IP protocols in
some areas of the network. For example, the multiplication of Pseudowires (PWs) for some applications such as
mobile backhaul requires IP addresses for the PWs that cannot be summarized. Thousands of such addresses
carried by an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) could be problematic. A static configuration of PWs alleviates this
problem. In addition, protection based on MPLS-Traffic Engineering (TE) may not be manageable in a situation
where the complexity associated with a TE/Fast Reroute (FRR) setup to protect thousands of nodes/paths could be
a challenge.
Cisco will offer an MPLS-TP solution that will allow static provisioning in the MPLS-TP domain. This approach will
ease the transition from legacy transport technologies to an MPLS infrastructure. Cisco is committed to delivering the
necessary integration between MPLS-TP and IP/MPLS so that LSPs and PWs may be provisioned and managed
smoothly, end-to-end.

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

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Figure 2.

Examples of IP/MPLS and MPLS-TP Deployments

Portal

AAA

DHCP, DNS

EMS

NMS

Service and Performance Management

OAM Subsystem

Business

Access

Carrier Ethernet Aggregation

Edge

Corporate

(C

oA

IU

AD

Multiservice Core

Residential
Aggregation
Node

Ethernet

Distribution
Node

VoD

TV

SIP

BNG

Content Network
STB
Core

Aggregation Network

Business
2G/3G Node
Corporate

Core Network
IP/MPLS

Business
PE

Residential
DSL

STB
PON

Business
Corporate
Residential

Dark Fiber/CWDM/DWDM and ROADM

STB

IP/MPLS
Ethernet

MPLS-TP (static/dynamic)

MPLS-TP (static/dynamic)

IP/MPLS
IP/MPLS

MPLS-TP OAM and Survivability

The functions of OAM and survivability for MPLS-TP networks are intended to reduce network operational complexity
associated with network performance monitoring and management, fault management, and protection switching.
These are required in order to operate without any IP layer functions.
One of the goals of MPLS-TP OAM is to provide the tools needed to monitor and manage the network with the same
attributes offered by legacy transport technologies. For example, the OAM is designed to travel on the exact same
path that the data would take. In other words, MPLS-TP OAM monitors PWs or LSPs.
Two important components of the OAM mechanisms are the G-ACh and the Generic Alert Label (GAL). As their
names indicate, they allow an operator to send any type of control traffic into a PW or an LSP. The G-ACh is used in
both PWs and MPLS-TP LSPs. The GAL is used today in MPLS-TP LSPs to flag the G-ACh.

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

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The G-ACh is very similar to the associated channel as defined by RFC4385. The G-ACh is like a container or
channel that runs on the PW and carries OAM messages. For example, Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification
1

(VCCV) may be sent over an associated channel to monitor if the PW is available. The associated channel is a
generic function, such that it can also run over LSPs. This generic function is capable of carrying user traffic, OAM
traffic, and management traffic over either a PW or an LSP. It can also carry Automatic Protection Switching (APS)

information and Data Communications Channel (DCC), Signaling Communication Channel (SCC), and Management
3

Communication Channel (MCC) management traffic, etc.

It is important to note that this generic construct defined for MPLS-TP will be reused by IP/MPLS. This will provide a
very extensive set of OAM tools, and support FCAPS functions for end-to-end management.
Figure 3.

Associated Channel and GAL

OAM Flow
A

Pseudowire
MAC Header

LSP-L

PWE-3L

PWE-3L

OAM Message

LSP Label
Pseudowire Label
Pseudowire Associated Channel
Pseudowire Channel Type
OAM Function

0001 | Ver | Resv | Channel Type

Pseudowire

OAM Flow
A

LSP
MAC Header

LSP-L

GAL(13)

G-ACh

OAM Message

0001 | Ver | Resv | Channel Type

LSP Label
GAL
Generic Associated Channel
Generic Channel Type
OAM Function

LSP and Section

MPLS-TP Control Plane

Within the context of MPLS-TP, the control plane is the mechanism used to set up an LSP automatically across a
packet-switched network domain. The use of a control plane protocol is optional in MPLS-TP. Some operators may
prefer to configure the LSPs and PWs using a Network Management System in the same way that it would be used
to provision a SONET network. In this case, no IP or routing protocol is used.
On the other hand, it is possible to use a dynamic control plane with MPLS-TP so that LSPs and PWs are set up by
the network using Generalized (G)-MPLS and Targeted Label Distribution Protocol (T-LDP) respectively. G-MPLS is
based on the TE extensions to MPLS (MPLS-TE). It may also be used to set up the OAM function and define
recovery mechanisms. T-LDP is part of the PW architecture and is widely used today to signal PWs and their status.

VCCV Pseudowire Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification: a control channel that is associated with a PW
APS Automatic Protection Switching: involves reserving a protection channel (dedicated or shared) with the same capacity as the
channel or facility to be protected
3
Data Communications Channel (DCC) is the in-band data communication channel in SONET/SDH communication. SCC
Signaling communication channel, MCC Management communication channel

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

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Summary
MPLS-TP represents a new development in the larger MPLS protocol suite. It offers an evolution architecture for
TDM-based transport networks, and is optimized to carry packets. It carefully preserves the OAM and management
characteristics that transport groups have been using in the past and allows a full end-to-end integration with existing
and future IP/MPLS infrastructures. By using IP/MPLS and MPLS-TP, service providers will have a consistent way of
provisioning, troubleshooting, and managing their networks from edge to edge.
Cisco is committed to supporting MPLS-TP components on its key platforms, with an initial emphasis on providing it
for aggregation and access equipment. Service providers will now have maximum flexibility when addressing their
transition to packet networks.

References
IETF References

RFC 5586 MPLS Generic Associated Channel

ietf-mpls-tp-framework

ietf-mpls-tp-gach-gal

ietf-mpls-tp-oam-requirements

ietf-mpls-tp-requirements

ietf-mpls-tp-gach-dcn

ietf-mpls-tp-oam-framework

ietf-mpls-tp-survive-fwk

IETF RFC 3031 Multiprotocol label switching architecture

IETF RFC 3032 MPLS label stack encoding

IETF RFC 3270 Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) support of Differentiated Services

IETF RFC 3443 Time To Live (TTL) processing in Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks

IETF RFC 3985 Pseudowire Emulation Edge-to-Edge (PWE3) Architecture

IETF RFC 4448 Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Ethernet over MPLS Networks

IETF draft-bryant-pwe3-mpls-transport-00 Application of PWE3 to MPLS Transport Networks

ITU-T References

ITU-T Recommendation G.8110.1 Architecture of MPLS-TP Layer Network

ITU-T Recommendation G.8112 Interfaces for the MPLS-TP Hierarchy

ITU-T Recommendation G.8121 Characteristics of MPLS-TP Network Equipment Functional Blocks

ITU-T Recommendation G.8131 MPLS-TP linear Protection

ITU-T Recommendation G.8132 MPLS-TP Ring Protection

ITU-T Recommendation G.8101 Terms and definition for MPLS-TP

ITU-T Recommendation G.7712 Architecture and Specification of Data Communication Network

ITU-T Recommendation G.8151 Management aspects of the MPLS-TP network element

Refer to the following liaison for a complete list of IETF/ITU documents:

https://datatracker.ietf.org/documents/LIAISON/file648.pdf

2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

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