21 September - 25 September 2008 (Sun - Thu)
5-day Instructor-Led, 0900 - 1700
Dubai, UAE

This course provides a strong foundation in MPLS and IP Traffic Engineering for IP network professionals and network managers.
After Completing this course, the student will be able to
-- Implement advanced designs and configurations in MPLS Networks
-- Design and configure and implement VPN networks
-- Design and deploy Traffic Engineering in MPLS networks
-- Describe the underlying concepts of MPLS
-- Describe the concept of MPLS labels, label stack and different label formats
-- Describe IP Traffic Engineering using MPLS
-- Describe the label distribution process between LSRs
-- Explore the future trends of MPLS

The course is of utmost importance for all engineers responsible for deploying advanced MPLS services in Service Provider backbones. It is a recommended training for individuals seeking advanced MPLS based knowledge and skills. The course will enable learners to gather information from the technology basics to some of the more updated features and functions such as Traffic Engineering. The focus of the course is on technology issues of MPLS from the Service Providers perspective and how to configure some of those features and functions in an existing routed environment.

This course provides an in-depth study of the MPLS technology, including the theory and configuration, network design issues, operations, VPN, traffic engineering, and GMPLS. The course starts with an overview of conventional routing and how it compares to MPLS routing. Participants will then learn about the underlying concepts, features, functions, benefits, and applications of MPLS. They will also study the frame-mode and cell-mode MPLS, the concept of MPLS labels, label stack and different label formats, the label distribution process between LSRs, the loop detection and prevention mechanisms in MPLS, MPLS architecture, MPLS VPN, MPLS QoS, and MPLS traffic engineering. The course concludes with an exploration of the future trends related to the MPLS technology.

The Participant will

-- Understand MPLS theory, design and cofiguration
-- Implement and support MPLS VPNs, Traffic Engineering
-- Identify the Interactions between MPLS and IP Routing
-- Understand the design, configuration and troubleshooting of OSPF, BGP.

Basic knowledge of IP Networks is required.

Network Architects, Service Providers, Engineers and Network Managers who need a good grasp of the technologies involved in modern IP networks and network services.

(Day 1)

I. Introduction to MPLS and Motivation

II. Review of Classical IP Network
Internet Protocol Architecture
Review of Forwarding, Routing and Sing
Routing Protocols
IGP and EGP
Birth of MPLS

III. Origin and Evolution on MPLS
Review of ATM
Layer 3 Switching Motivation
Early MPLS
Evolution of MPLS Technology

IV. MPLS Level Switching Architecture
Label Switching Model
Label, Label Switched Router (LSR)
Basic Concepts in Label Switching
Label Switched Paths (LSP)
Layer 2.5 / Shim Header
Label Stack, Special Labels
L2 mapping, L2 mux/demux support

(Day 2)

I. MPLS Level Switching Architecture (Cont.)
LER and Edge Functions
Use of Label Stack, PHP
LSP Setup
Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC)
Label Binding, Uniqueness, Aggregation
Path Computation and Path Setup
Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)
LDP Messages, Control Modes
Label Distribution using BGP
LSP Setup Scenarios
TTL Processing
MPLS Packet Processing

II. Generalization of GMPLS
Optical Fibre, Lambda, TSC domains
Extending MPLS to GMPLS

(Day 3)

I. MPLS VPNs
Intro, types of VPN
Using MPLS for VPN
L3 and L3 VPNs
BGP/MPLS VPN, VRF
Address conversion, Label Stack
L2 VPNs, Pseudo-Wire

II. MPLS DiffServ (Differentiated Services)
DiffServ intro
DSCP
Queuing, Policing, Marking, Shaping etc
Traffic Classes
PHB
DiffServ over MPLS
E and L LSPs
DiffServ Scalability

III. Introduction to Traffic Engineering
TE Motivation
Congestion in Shortest Path
TE Process Flow

(Day 4)

I. Traffic Engineering – Legacy approaches

II. Traffic Engineering using CBR, CSPF

III. MPLS Traffic Engineering Aproach
Traffic Trunks, Assigning traffic
Path Selection
Priority, Pre-emption etc
MPLS TE Model
Block Diagram
OSPF Extensions
Path Selection & Setup

IV. RSVP and CR - LDP

(Day 5)

I. Path Protection and Recovery
Tunnel Re-Route / First Re-Route
Redundancy Design

II. Traffic Engineering Case Study

III. Application Topics

IV. Recent Development