Selecting MPLS VPN Services

Chris Lewis, Steve Pickavance9781587051913, 1587051915

A guide to using and defining MPLS VPN servicesAnalyze strengths and weaknesses of TDM and Layer 2 WAN servicesUnderstand the primary business and technical issues when evaluating IP/MPLS VPN offeringsDescribe the IP addressing, routing, load balancing, convergence, and services capabilities of the IP VPNDevelop enterprise quality of service (QoS) policies and implementation guidelinesAchieve scalable support for multicast servicesLearn the benefits and drawbacks of various security and encryption mechanismsEnsure proper use of services and plan for future growth with monitoring and reporting servicesProvide remote access, Internet access, and extranet connectivity to the VPN supported intranetProvide a clear and concise set of steps to plan and execute a network migration from existing ATM/Frame Relay/leased line networks to an IP VPNIP/MPLS VPNs are compelling for many reasons. For enterprises, they enable right-sourcing of WAN services and yield generous operational cost savings. For service providers, they offer a higher level of service to customers and lower costs for service deployment.Migration comes with challenges, however. Enterprises must understand key migration issues, what the realistic benefits are, and how to optimize new services. Providers must know what aspects of their services give value to enterprises and how they can provide the best value to customers.Selecting MPLS VPN Services helps you analyze migration options, anticipate migration issues, and properly deploy IP/MPLS VPNs. Detailed configurations illustrate effective deployment while case studies present available migration options and walk you through the process of selecting the best option for your network. Part I addresses the business case for moving to an IP/MPLS VPN network, with a chapter devoted to the business and technical issues you should review when evaluating IP/MPLS VPN offerings from major providers. Part II includes detailed deployment guidelines for the technologies used in the IP/MPLS VPN.This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco PressR, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.