The MPLS WG Archive

["David Allan" <dallan@nortelnetworks.com>]

Title:

Folks:

Don't care what you term it, an MPLS "level" performs forwarding, is managagable, has unique modes of failure, may be uniquely manipulated by a control plane, collects performance statistics, offers queuing and scheduling....

and it can RECURSE, in some ways a similar attribute to .....IP/PPP/L2TP/IP.... or .....IP/GRE/IP...... or OC3/OC12/OC48/OC192/OC768

in some folks book it can be a bunch of layers.....in other folks book it is a helper of arbitrary complexity, all depends on which control plane fiddles the cross connect and whether the application is a peer or overlay model.

regardless of what semantic term you use or how you justify your classiciation on the basis of arcane networking models, each level is a unique forwarding plane with unique attributes, everything else derives from that. Merely claiming that the only application of a unique forwarding layer is a helper is akin to suggesting export controls on encryption. The cat is out of the bag by the mere fact of its existence.

cheers
Dave
----------------------------------------

Don,

I nevr claimed that MPLS is layer, I've always claimed that MPLS
is something entirely different. I use MPLS as a toolbox to support
my IP network.

/Loa

> Don Fedyk wrote:
>
> Loa
>
> I don't know what you are getting at. MPLS is recognizable
> in the forwarding plane. Yakov said this is not a requirement.
> I pointed out that while this is true, in practice, for whatever
> reason we end up putting a recognizable layer in the forwarding
> plane. I just called it like I see it. If you want to build a new
> OSI model to describe this then that is your prerogative. I don't
> see the need.
>
> Don
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Loa Andersson [mailto:loa.andersson@utfors.se]
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 11:34 AM
> > To: Fedyk, Don [BL60:1A00:EXCH]
> > Cc: Yakov Rekhter; Shahram Davari; 'mpls@UU.net'
> > Subject: Re: MPLSOAM BOF revised minutes
> >
> >
> > Don,
> >
> > what other layers are there in the model that MPLS is a layer
> > within?
> >
> > /Loa
> >
> > > Don Fedyk wrote:
> > >
> > > Loa
> > >
> > > My comment was in practice we treat it a layer. We should
> > > recognize that. Others have commented on the fact the OSI model
> > > does not capture all.
> > >
> > > Don
> > >
> > > >
> > > > > Don Fedyk wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Yakov
> > > > >
> > > > > I think MPLS is a layer in its own right.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Do you say that MPLS is a layer according to the OSI model?
> > > >
> > > > /Loa
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Loa Andersson
> > > > Chief Architect,
> > > > Utfors Research, Architecture and Future Lab (URAX)
> > > > Utfors AB
> > > > Råsundavägen 12
> > > > Box 525, 169 29 Solna
> > > > Office          +46 8 5270 2000
> > > > Office direct   +46 8 5270 5038
> > > > Mobile          +46 70 848 5038
> > > > Email           loa.andersson@utfors.se
> > > > WWW             www.utfors.se
> > > >
> >
> > --
> > Loa Andersson
> > Chief Architect,
> > Utfors Research, Architecture and Future Lab (URAX)
> > Utfors AB
> > Råsundavägen 12
> > Box 525, 169 29 Solna
> > Office          +46 8 5270 2000
> > Office direct   +46 8 5270 5038
> > Mobile          +46 70 848 5038
> > Email           loa.andersson@utfors.se
> > WWW             www.utfors.se
> >

--
Loa Andersson
Chief Architect,
Utfors Research, Architecture and Future Lab (URAX)
Utfors AB
Råsundavägen 12
Box 525, 169 29 Solna
Office          +46 8 5270 2000
Office direct   +46 8 5270 5038
Mobile          +46 70 848 5038
Email           loa.andersson@utfors.se
WWW             www.utfors.se

---------------------------------
Sr. Advisor, Portfolio Integration and Architecture
dallan@nortelnetworks.com