What is MPLS? Multiprotocol Label Switching Defined | Fortinet (2024)

"Multiprotocol" means that the system does not depend on any particular protocol to operate. It is an overlay, which enables it to forward a variety of different types of data, regardless of the protocol used to organize them.

"Label switching" refers to the fact that system routers form a label-switched path (LSP), which is a predetermined path that routes the traffic within the network—another essential facet of the MPLS definition. This results in better transmission and overall superior quality of service (QoS) when compared to regular IP routing. Some companies have—and continue to use—it, particularly when a strong, uninterrupted connection is critical. It reduces latency and allows companies to execute smoother videoconferences or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, which depend on smooth, uninterrupted streams of data.

These objectives are similar to those of what is a SD-WAN?With an SD-WAN-powered connection, data is transferred more efficiently, producing smoother performance. For example, if a company wanted to ensure a smooth videoconference with several satellite offices or remote employees, they could use SD-WAN to make sure each video signal reaches everyone in the conference efficiently. Similar to MPLS, SD-WAN would produce an experience for the end-user with less latency while maintaining a higher resolution.

MPLS is not a product or a service, and this distinction is key to understanding how MPLS works. Rather, it is a technique that designates paths to send data between nodes instead of endpoints. As a packet first enters the network, it gets assigned to a forwarding equivalence class (FEC), which dictates how the data packet is forwarded. This is done by appending a bit sequence label to the packet.

In MPLS, the bit sequence label acts like an address on an envelope that tells the data packet where to go. Packets with the same characteristics are associated with the same label and thus get forwarded using the same rules. As the data packet is forwarded from one router to the next, each router contains a table that tells it how to handle those specific types of packets.

In this way, data skips along short path labels instead of long network addresses. This can be done regardless of the underlying network protocols because MPLS is not limited to only handling one specific protocol. It supports whichever access technology is used—T1/E1, frame relay, digital subscriber line (DSL), or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

Because each data packet has specific directions as to where it should go, MPLS can allow for lower latency and better quality of service for the end-user.

Traditional IP routing can be compared to the current international airline system. If you want to fly from Belize to Boston, you may have to take one flight from Belize to Houston, Texas, another one to Newark, New Jersey, and yet another flight to Boston. Due to all of the transfers, the total trip can easily take over 24 hours.

With MPLS—and SD-WAN—it is like you are put on a private jet that follows its own, more efficient path. Likely, the jet could go straight from Belize to Boston. If the plane had to stop in the States, it would choose a spot along the way, such as North Carolina, not Houston which is hundreds of miles off course.

When millions of packets of data travel all over the country, some are bound to suffer delays, resulting in latency and poor quality. When data comes with specific directions that send it along a more efficient path, the end-user gets better quality video and audio, as well as faster overall transmissions.

It is hard to fit MPLS neatly into the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) seven-layer hierarchy. It fits somewhere between Layer 2 and Layer 3. This is because Layer 2 includes the data link involving devices such as switches, while Layer 3 refers to the network, which includes routers. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as existing at “Level 2.5” because it is not a device that facilitates a data link (Layer 2), but it is also not a device like a router (Layer 3).

1. Better performance: MPLS produces better performance than an older technology designed to perform a similar function, ATM. Asynchronous transfer modes first form virtual circuits between two endpoints, and after the circuit has been put in place, the data can be transferred. This worked well over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and with integrated services digital network (ISDN), but MPLS works better with current IP technology.
2. Better traffic management: MPLS ensures traffic on the network is sent to its destination efficiently. While it has an objective similar to that of a frame relay, it is more consistent when it comes to traffic management, resulting in less latency or packet loss.
3. Improved security: Even though MPLS does not automatically come with its own security protocol, it is a virtual private network (VPN), which separates it from the public internet. Therefore, threats inherent to the public internet do not affect the system.

1. Dependence on a carrier: With MPLS, you need a specific carrier to facilitate the system. If your carrier service disappoints and you decide to switch, your MPLS system may be compromised, requiring a redesign, extra work, and wasted time.
2. Expense: MPLS costs far more than other technologies like broadband. If an organization decides to use this approach anyway, they would have to do a detailed cost analysis to make sure the benefits justify the extra expense.
3. Lack of comprehensive coverage: An MPLS system is set up to serve a specific area with a limited number of end-users. Expanding the system to include a wider array of users or a broader service area would require an additional expense.

MPLS, while once one of the most effective solutions available, has been superseded by other technologies. Its primary benefit is that, when users connect, they enjoy strong connectivity with consistent performance. When data needs to be delivered quickly and without interruption, MPLS can do a very good job, but it is not the only player in the game.

For many businesses, a high-speed fiber connection over a regular public network often gives them the performance they need. In the 1990s when MPLS was invented, high-speed, consistent connections were not as common as they are today. However, even modern public internet solutions have their limitations. They may experience lag due to increased traffic or other bandwidth demands. This is where SD-WAN comes into play.

Because SD-WAN provides a network of encrypted routing paths, it is in a good position to replace MPLS in the vast majority of situations. SD-WAN already optimizes the transfer of data, directing packets to their destinations in a more efficient manner. Therefore, SD-WAN is often a more-than-sufficient solution.

Many companies have switched from MPLS to SD-WAN because the latter delivers all the same benefits without the extra cost. SD-WAN:

1. Protects your network from threats that MPLS cannot: An SD-WAN system can come equipped with threat detection and suppression measures to secure your network.
2. Better visibility: SD-WAN systems provide full visibility of all the users and devices on the network. Enhanced visibility makes the network easier to manage and keep secure.
3. Can cost less: A hub-and-spoke wide-area network (WAN) model with MPLS connections requires data to be sent to the data center, where it is processed and redistributed. This is a costly solution. SD-WAN’s multipoint connectivity better manages traffic using a combination of cloud and internet resources, saving the organization money in the process.
4. Has better overall performance: Even though MPLS delivers consistent performance, it often cannot handle some of the heavier lifting that results from modern network traffic, and while organizations can lease extra bandwidth to handle an increased load, the leasing fees are, essentially, wasted money when the load is normal. SD-WAN, on the other hand, can adapt bandwidth according to changing conditions.

Yes, SD-WAN can replace MPLS in many situations, primarily because SD-WAN provides the same general functionality, and it comes with a variety of benefits. For example:

1. An SD-WAN implementation costs less than installing MPLS.
2. While MPLS is secure because it gives you a VPN, if you opt for a secure SD-WAN solution, you get even better protection.
3. MPLS gives you a stable, set amount of bandwidth. Even though this stability can enhance reliability, with SD-WAN, you can adjust bandwidth according to requirements, making it a more flexible solution.

Secure SD-WAN is a better overall choice than MPLS due to its flexibility, security, and cost savings. For environments that need the reliability benefits of MPLS, however, you don’t have to choose it over SD-WAN because the two can work in conjunction with each other. In other words, an SD-WAN system can easily incorporate MPLS, making it an ideal replacement solution without forcing you to sacrifice one technology for the other.

Click here for more information about the differences between SD-WAN and MPLS.

At the end of the day, SD-WAN provides a more efficient, less expensive experience for users on your network. Fortinet has reliable, secure options to help you improve networking performance with SD-WAN. With Fortinet SD-WAN, you get a combination ofnext-generation firewall (NGFW)protection and the agility you need to ensure your network automatically adapts according to your changing requirements.

This enables you to enhance your users’ QoS while simultaneously improving security and simplifying your WAN—all without having to invest in a costly MPLS system. As you automate your system with Fortinet SD-WAN, you can also incorporate deep analytics to discover new efficiencies, making it easier to optimize performance across multiple locations, regardless of where they are in the world.