T-MPLS or Transport MPLS is a transport network layer technology that uses extensions to a subset of the existing

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 ...

standards and is designed specifically for application in transport networks. Work to define T-MPLS was started by the

ITU-T The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is one of the three sectors (divisions or units) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It is responsible for coordinating standards for telecommunications and Information Commu ...

in February 2006. It was intended specifically as a connection-oriented packet-switched (co-ps) application offering a simpler implementation by removing

features that are not relevant to co-ps applications and adding mechanisms that provide support of critical transport functionality.

ceased work on T-MPLS in December 2008, in favour of

MPLS-TP In telecommunications, Multiprotocol Label Switching - Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) is a variant of the MPLS protocol that is used in packet switched data networks. MPLS-TP is the product of a joint Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) / Internati ...

standardization. T-MPLS uses the same architectural principles of layered networking that are used in other technologies like

SDH SDH may refer to: Science, medicine and technology * Serine dehydratase, an enzyme * L-sorbose 1-dehydrogenase, an enzyme * Succinate dehydrogenase, an enzyme * Shubnikov–de Haas effect * Social Determinants of Health, economic and social condi ...

and OTN. Service providers have already developed management processes and work procedures based on these principles for use in networks that use those other technologies. In this way T-MPLS was intended to provide a reliable packet-based technology that is familiar and also aligned with circuit-based transport networking; it supports current organizational processes and large-scale work procedures. T-MPLS is a low cost Layer 2 technology that provides QoS, end-to-end

OA&M Operations, administration and management or operations, administration and maintenance (OA&M or OAM) are the processes, activities, tools, and standards involved with operating, administering, managing and maintaining any system. This commonly ...

and protection switching. The following

Recommendations exist for T-MPLS. These Recommendations will be superseded (i.e., replaced) by new revisions that apply to

and reference the joint work being undertaken by the ITU-T and

IETF The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is a standards organization for the Internet and is responsible for the technical standards that make up the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP). It has no formal membership roster or requirements and a ...

. A further set of

Recommendations were at a draft stage when work on T-MPLS was halted. These may be resumed at a later stage to reference the material developed as part of the

effort. After

raised concerns over T-MPLS technology, mainly about incompatibility with the already established IP/MPLS, the ITU-T and the IETF started a joint activity to solve potential issues. The decision was to transfer control to IETF to develop a new MPLS profile specialized for transport (

) with input from ITU recommendations A new activity was added to the charter of the

working group of

References

{{Reflist

External links

ITU-T series G recommendations

MPLS networking Internet Standards Network protocols Tunneling protocols