Scalability and Functionality Challenges for MPLS VPN Networks

摘要

This article explains the principal network engineering developments that have underpinned significant growth in provider-provisioned virtual private network (PP-VPN) services based on border gateway protocol/ multi-protocol label switching (BGP/MPLS) technology. The key advances can be broadly categorised into two important areas - scalability and functionality. This article assesses in detail the underlying facets of scalability and functionality that continue to drive engineering advances in BGP/MPLS VPN networks. This assessment is carried out from the perspective of real-world deployment and operation of a very large-scale BGP/MPLS VPN network. As well as stressing the obvious advances that have been made in such networks since their inception, the article also highlights future challenges that will be faced by service providers.