Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) is a protocol suite extending

MPLS Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a routing technique in telecommunications networks that directs data from one node to the next based on labels rather than network addresses. Whereas network addresses identify endpoints the labels identif ...

to manage further classes of interfaces and switching technologies other than packet interfaces and switching, such as

time-division multiplexing Time-division multiplexing (TDM) is a method of transmitting and receiving independent signals over a common signal path by means of synchronized switches at each end of the transmission line so that each signal appears on the line only a fracti ...

, layer-2 switching, wavelength switching and fiber-switching.

Differences between MPLS and GMPLS

Generalized MPLS differs from traditional MPLS in that it extends support to multiple types of switching such as TDM, wavelength and fiber (port) switching. For instance, GMPLS is the ''

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...

'' control plane of

wavelength switched optical network Wavelength switched optical network (WSON) is a type of telecommunications network. A WSON consist of two planes: the data and the control planes. The data plane comprises wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) fiber links connecting optical cro ...

(WSON). The support for the additional types of switching has driven GMPLS to extend certain base functions of traditional MPLS and, in some cases, to add functionality. These changes and additions impact basic

label-switched path Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a routing technique in telecommunications networks that directs data from one node to the next based on labels rather than network addresses. Whereas network addresses identify endpoints the labels identif ...

(LSP) properties: how labels are requested and communicated, the unidirectional nature of LSPs, how errors are propagated, and information provided for synchronizing the ingress and egress LSRs.

How GMPLS works

GMPLS is based on Generalized Labels. The Generalized Label is a label that can represent either (a) a single fiber in a bundle, (b) a single waveband within fiber, (c) a single wavelength within a waveband (or fiber), or (d) a set of time-slots within a wavelength (or fiber). The Generalized Label can also carry a label that represents a generic MPLS label, a Frame Relay label, or an ATM label. GMPLS is composed of three main protocols: * Resource Reservation Protocol with Traffic Engineering extensions (

RSVP-TE Resource Reservation Protocol - Traffic Engineering is an extension of the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) for traffic engineering. It supports the reservation of resources across an IP network. Applications running on IP end systems can us ...

) signaling protocol. * Open Shortest Path First with Traffic Engineering extensions (

OSPF-TE Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a routing protocol for Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It uses a link state routing (LSR) algorithm and falls into the group of interior gateway protocols (IGPs), operating within a single autonomous sys ...

) routing protocol. * Link Management Protocol (LMP).J. Lang, "Link Management Protocol (LMP)", RFC 4204, Oct. 2005, IETF.

References

External links

* IETF CCAMP Working Group
charter
* IETF TEAS Working Group
charter
Internet Standards Network protocols Telecommunication protocols

Differences between MPLS and GMPLS

How GMPLS works

See also

References

Further reading

External links