The MPLS WG Archive

[Daniel Awduche <awduche@UU.NET>]

Hansen,

Yes, many (perhaps most) contemporary implementations perform
LSP path computations online. This is a mandatory requirement
in some operational contexts. It's also possible to augment
the online system with offline software tools.

Cheers,
/Dan

On Thu, Apr 20, 2000 at 06:04:13PM -0400, HANSEN CHAN wrote:
> Dan,
> 
> To make sure I understand. Do you mean the path of LSPs is computed on the
> node, not by software tools?
> 
> Thanks,
> Hansen
> 
> Daniel Awduche wrote:
> 
> > Actually, the original assertion/generalization is false
> > (i.e. that "LSPs in today's MPLS network are usually computed
> > off-node").
> >
> > Cheers,
> > /Dan
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 20, 2000 at 02:08:22PM -0400, Anoop Ghanwani wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am trying to understanding the use of TE extension of IGP in a MPLS
> > > > network. From my understanding, you need TE extension when you're doing
> > > > on-node path computation. However, since LSPs in today's MPLS network
> > >                                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > >
> > > We're hoping it won't stay that way forever because it's limiting
> > > to have to rely on offline tools for all traffic engineering :-)
> > >
> > > That means that traffic engineering would need to be more dynamic,
> > > and the routers would play a more active role in determining paths
> > > and possibly doing network optimization.  Hence the IGP extensions.
> > >
> > > > are usually computed off-node (in software tool), why would the use of
> > > > TE extension be critical?
> > > >
> > > > Appreciate if someone can shed some light on this question.
> > >