5 Ways to Access An MPLS Network

MPLS networks have become a highly desirable option to expensive proprietary WAN networks or the public Internet with its performance and security issues. Let’s take a look at what MPLS networks have to offer and the variety of options that you can use to gain access.

You might think of an MPLS network as something of a private Internet for business. MPLS networks are privately owned and operated and don’t offer resources or connectivity for residential users. MPLS is a B2B or Business to Business service. There are numerous service providers, each with their own MPLS networks having regional, national or international service footprints. In addition, there are service providers who specialize in interconnecting MPLS networks to create an even larger reach. The result is a multiple-MPLS or MPLS Mesh network.

MPLS is often the core network of a major service provider. The reason is the versatility offered by this technology. The underlying network is either IP native or SONET/SDH fiber optic service at 10 Gbps or higher. Many networks are now migrating from 40 Gbps to 100 Gbps, which is considered state of the art. What makes the network MPLS is a unique switching and routing scheme that is protocol-agnostic.

The name MPLS is an acronym for Multi-Protocol Label Switching. Multi-Protocol means that the network will accept Voice, Data or Video IP, SONET, T-Carrier or other traffic types. At any given time, the network may be transporting a wide variety of protocols without corruption or interference. Label Switching is the technique that wraps each packet that enters the network with a tag that is used only to forward that packet to the correct destination with an appropriate class of service. Those labels are removed as the packets exit the network in exactly the same state as they arrived.

Think of MPLS networks as private superhighway systems and access as the on and off ramps. A major advantage of procuring MPLS network service for long haul transport is that you only need to worry about getting your traffic to and from the network. The network operator optimizes performance of the MPLS network to ensure adequate bandwidth with low latency, jitter and packet loss. You need the means to get to and from that network with your traffic intact.

EarthLink Business offers a nationwide access-agnostic MPLS network with Service Level Agreements (SLA) based on Class of Service (CoS). They offer 5 different access technologies based on what makes sense at each business location. Note that you can easily mix and match access methods and still maintain complete CoS right up to your own network edge. Here’s what you have to pick from.

The classic and still most popular access method is T1 lines. They are almost universally available over common twisted pair telco wiring that is already installed to most business locations. T1 lines offer 1.5 Mbps symmetrical bandwidth that can be increased by bonding more T1 lines together. EarthLink boasts 4 hour mean time to repair (MTTR) private T1 lines if there is ever a link problem.

Many companies have looked to DSL as a lower cost alternative to T1. ADSL is an asymmetrical bandwidth service with higher download than upload speeds. Earthlink is the first provider to offer CoS traffic management over DSL, making this access method viable for serious business use.

Ethernet over copper (EoC) and fiber (EoF) is a strong competitor to T1, DS3 and higher speed SONET fiber services. Ethernet is a better match to IP traffic than switched-circuit oriented TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) technologies. Ethernet is highly scalable and lower in cost on an Mbps basis, where available.

Wireless access works for companies with new location that need rapid provisioning and for low cost access where DSL is unavailable. 3G and 4G cellular-based bandwidth is often available in rural areas and offers T1 and better speeds without the landline. Fixed wireless microwave transmission offers higher speeds that can be an effective alternative to fiber.

Another unique service from EarthLink is MPLS IPsec. You may recognize IPsec or IP SECurity as a VPN technology used to make connections over the Internet secure. The security comes from using the 3DES encryption algorithm (168 bit). That’s the finance industry standard for network layer encryption. IPsec allows businesses to procure Internet access from a local provider in outlying areas and connect securely to the corporate MPLS network.

Is MPLS a good fit for your business networking needs? Which access methods are right for your various locations? You can easily find this out with a complementary set of MPLS network and access service quotes to compare with your current WAN solution. You may be surprised by the savings possible.

Got a Bandwidth Jones

How much bandwidth is enough? Silly question. How much money is enough? How much good health? How much chocolate? When it comes to bandwidth the more that's available, the more that we find use for. What's more, the most desirable bandwidth of all is wireless and fiber optic. Wireless is for freedom of movement. Fiber optic is for massive throughput. Property owners and managers that offer their business clients both may well find themselves more in demand than even health, wealth and fine quality chocolate.

A new report on business and consumer bandwidth usage says that IP traffic will grow by three times more in the next four years than what it has reached after the first 30 years. Even more interesting, the majority of that traffic will be located on private networks.

Popular media has convinced us that YouTube video is sucking up all available bandwidth and bringing the Internet to its knees. Indeed, some service providers and particularly Cable broadband companies are struggling to cope with the surge in Internet activity. But a lot of that is because they oversubscribed their networks based on assumptions of limited infrequent traffic from Web surfers, not lengthy high bandwdith downloads of video clips, movies and television shows. Less well known is the dramatic growth in business traffic both on the Internet and off.

What's behind all this organizational activity? It's a combination of new types of information based businesses and productivity improvement initiatives by old-line businesses.

The new businesses offer digitally based services, such as video production and distribution, computer generated imaging, software outsourcing, and digital modeling and simulation.

How about traditional businesses? Office buildings full of clerks processing paper-based forms have been replaced by online systems for order entry, processing and shipment, inventory tracking, and e-commerce Web sites. More sophisticated tools help fewer people handle a larger volume of work without becoming swamped. Electronic communications have reduced cycle times of virtually every business process. Even mom and pop franchise operations have point of sale systems tied back to the franchisor for sales tracking and automatic inventory management. Plus every business, no matter how large or small, has its own Web site.

This transformation in business practice means that owners and managers of business properties have to consider electronic communications as a necessary utility, the same as electricity, heat and water. Today, it's very reasonable to make sure your building is "lit" for fiber optic service and even including high bandwidth connectivity as part of the lease. No longer are fiber optic bandwidth prices unreasonable. New Metro Ethernet services offer 100 Mbps and even Gigabit Ethernet at reasonable prices when shared among multiple tenants. Include some wireless access points to cover the floor space and you have an up to date facility that will appeal to even the most high-tech tenants.