Validation of the MPLS module in OPNET

Abstract

MPLS is an emerging technology that combines layer 2 switching performance with layer 3 scalability. MPLS assigns labels to packets for transportation across a packet-switched or a circuit-switched network. The forwarding mechanism in a MPLS network is based upon label swapping in which every packet (or cell) carries a short label that indicates the manner in which the packet (or cell) needs to be processed. The benefits of MPLS include, among others, scalable support for Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and Constraint Based Routing (CBR) for effective deployment of Traffic Engineering (TE). The current work explores the various capabilities of MPLS module implemented by OPNET Modeler 8.0.