If reading this post, there is a good chance you need to know more about MPLS VPN. Well, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a method of switching packets using labels rather than IP addresses or Layer 3 information. It is protocol-agnostic and speeds up packet forwarding and routing.
When MPLS was first introduced, it showed considerable boost in speed and took substantial load off networks by laying off IP address inspection. Nowadays, MPLS is used not only to facilitate higher speed requirements, but to develop advanced and augmented applications and services over the existing network infrastructure.
You might already be wondering, how does MPLS work in the first place? In a nutshell, IP forwarding/routing is a concept you might already be family with. You can deem it as the process of a router forwarding/routing a packet using information stored in its routing tables.
Once a router receives a packet, it examines its IP header, fetches the destination IP and decides which path to forward the packet onto, such that it reaches its intended destination. This based on the routing table. To cut a long story short, MPLS technology aims to do the same but without IP header inspection. Instead, it takes advantage of MPLS labels.
Keep in mind MPLS Virtual Private Network, or MPLS VPN is the most sought-after and widespread implementation of MPLS technology. Actually, a virtual private network extends a private network across a public network and allows users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network.
So why is MPLS VPN a great way to connect to the cloud? The good thing about taking this approach is that MPLS VPNs can offer improved performance and traffic control. And this is easy to see since MPLS VPNs help provide quality performance for cloud-based applications. This is mainly because they enable enterprises to prioritize certain types of their traffic, a concept known as Class of Service (CoS).
And since MPLS VPNs are carried over a single carrier’s network, not over the public internet, it sets the table for better reliability. This is because the traffic won’t be subject to the vagaries of the public internet. Take it upon yourself to do your homework and find out more about MPLS VPN before finally leveraging what it offers different enterprises.
