Description

Implementing Cisco MPLS (MPLS) v2.2 is an instructor-led training (ILT) course that is part of the Cisco CCIP® certification track. The course is five days long and uses standard ILT form. The course reflects the latest developments in network design and technologies, using real-world scenarios to help reinforce the learning of key objectives.

Service providers and enterprises are faced with many challenges in terms of customer demand, including an ongoing need for value-added services. Conventional IP packet forwarding has several limitations, and more and more service providers are realizing that something else is needed. Not only must service providers and enterprises be concerned with protecting their existing infrastructure, but they must also find ways to generate new services that are not currently supportable using existing technologies.

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a high-performance method for forwarding packets through a network. MPLS enables routers at the edge of a network to apply simple labels to packets. This practice allows the edge devices—ATM switches or existing routers in the center of the service provider core—to switch packets according to labels, with minimal lookup overhead. MPLS integrates the performance and traffic-management capabilities of data link Layer 2 with the scalability and flexibility of network Layer 3 routing. When used in conjunction with other standard technologies, MPLS allows service providers the ability to support value-added features that are critical for their networks.

The Implementing Cisco MPLS course is recommended training for individuals seeking certification as a CCIP. The course will enable learners to gather information ranging from technology basics to more updated features and functions such as complex Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The focus of the course is on MPLS technology issues, as such issues apply to service providers, and on how to configure new features and functions in an existing routed environment.

Objectives

After completing this course the student should be able to:

• Describe how the service provider infrastructure is attacked
• Describe the features of MPLS
• Describe how MPLS labels are assigned and distributed
• Identify the Cisco IOS tasks and command syntax necessary to implement MPLS on frame-mode Cisco IOS platforms
• Describe the MPLS peer-to-peer architecture and explain the routing and packet forwarding model in this architecture
• Identify the Cisco IOS command syntax required to successfully configure, monitor, and troubleshoot VPN operations
• Identify how the MPLS VPN model can be used to implement managed services and Internet access
• Describe the various Internet access implementations that are available and the benefits and drawbacks of each model
• Provide an overview of MPLS Traffic Engineering

Prerequisites

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification or equivalent level of working knowledge and experience, completion of CCNA Basics and ICND courseware is recommended training for CCNA.
• Equivalent knowledge and skill that can be acquired by attending Cisco's training courses Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) and Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers (BGP).
• Practical experience with deploying and operating networks based on Cisco network devices and Cisco IOS is strongly recommended.
• The QoS course is highly recommended because QoS knowledge is assumed in several sections of the course.

Who Should Attend

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• The target audience for the Implementing Cisco MPLS course consists of network administrators and technicians responsible for implementing and troubleshooting basic IP multicast-enabled networks within a single domain—Cisco CCNP®, CCDP®, CCIE®, and CCIP routing and switching candidates.

The secondary audience for this course is as follows:

• The course is targeted toward presales and postsales technical engineers responsible for designing, implementing, and troubleshooting MPLS networks or solutions based on MPLS technology.

• Module 1: MPLS Concepts
  • Lesson 1: Introducing Basic MPLS Concepts
  • Lesson 2: Introducing MPLS Labels and Label Stacks
  • Lesson 3: Identifying MPLS Applications
• Module 2: Label Assignment and Distribution
  • Lesson 1: Discovering LDP Neighbors
  • Lesson 2: DIntroducing Typical Label Distribution in Frame-Mode MPLS
  • Lesson 3: Introducing Convergence in Frame-Mode MPLS
  • Lesson 4: Introducing MPLS Label Allocation, Distribution, and Retention Modes
• Module 3: Frame-Mode MPLS Implementation on Cisco IOS Platforms
  • Lesson 1: Introducing CEF Switching
  • Lesson 2: Configuring Frame-Mode MPLS on Cisco IOS Platforms
  • Lesson 3: Monitoring Frame-Mode MPLS on Cisco IOS Platforms
  • Lesson 4: Troubleshooting Frame-Mode MPLS on Cisco IOS Platforms
• Module 4: MPLS VPN Technology
  • Lesson 1: Introducing VPNs
  • Lesson 2: Categorizing VPNs
  • Lesson 3: Introducing MPLS VPN Architecture
  • Lesson 4: Introducing the MPLS VPN Routing Model
  • Lesson 5: Forwarding MPLS VPN Packets
• Module 5: MPLS VPN Implementation
  • Lesson 1: Using MPLS VPN Mechanisms of Cisco IOS Platforms
  • Lesson 2: Configuring VRF Tables
  • Lesson 3: Configuring an MP-BGP Session Between PE Routers
  • Lesson 4: Configuring Small-Scale Routing Protocols Between PE and CE Routers
  • Lesson 5: Monitoring MPLS VPN Operations
  • Lesson 6: Configuring OSPF as the Routing Protocol Between PE and CE Routers
  • Lesson 7: Configuring BGP as the Routing Protocol Between PE and CE Routers
  • Lesson 8: Troubleshooting MPLS VPNs
• Module 6: Complex MPLS VPNs
  • Lesson 1: Using Advanced VRF Import and Export Features
  • Lesson 2: Introducing Overlapping VPNs
  • Lesson 3: Introducing Central Services VPNs
  • Lesson 4: Introducing the Managed CE Routers Service
• Module 7: Internet Access and MPLS VPNs
  • Lesson 1: Introducing VPN Internet Access Topologies
  • Lesson 2: Implementing Separating Internet Access and VPN Services
  • Lesson 3: Implementing Internet Access as a Separate VPN
• Module 8: MPLS TE Overview
  • Lesson 1: Introducing the TE Concept
  • Lesson 2: Understanding MPLS TE Components
  • Lesson 3: Configuring MPLS TE on Cisco IOS Platforms
  • Lesson 4: Monitoring Basic MPLS TE on Cisco IOS Platforms

Lab Outline

• Lab 2-1: Establishing the Service Provider IGP Routing Environment
• Lab 3-1: Establishing the Core MPLS Environment
• Lab 5-1: Configuring Initial MPLS VPN Setup
• Lab 5-2: Running EIGRP Between PE and CE Routers
• Lab 5-3: Running OSPF Between PE and CE Routers
• Lab 5-4: Running BGP Between PE and CE Routers
• Lab 6-1: Establishing Overlapping VPNs
• Lab 6-2: Merging Service Providers
• Lab 6-3: Establishing a Common Services VPN
• Lab 7-1: Establishing Central Site Internet Connectivity with an MPLS VPN
• Lab 8-1: Implementing Basic MPLS TE