White Paper MPLS-TP in Mission Critical Systems

White Paper
MPLS-TP in Mission-Critical Systems
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015
White Paper
Mission-Critical Systems
Security
Transportgrade
Technilogy
A Mission-Critical System (MCS) is a highly

reliable and secure network infrastructure that
provides critical applications for HV/MV Energy
& Distribution Grids, Oil & Gas Pipelines,
National/Urban Railways, High-speed Railway
Lines, Homeland Security, Public Safety, Air
Traffic Management & Control, essential to the
survival of a business or organization. When a
MCS fails or is interrupted, business operations
are significantly impacted.
Bandwidth
Flexibility
MPLS-TP
Lower
TCO
Figure 1: Main drivers for MPLS-TP
existing transport networks, the migration

towards PTNs is increasingly becoming a part
of the business strategy for many MCS business
organizations, replacing the existing (and
potentially more costly) TDM-based transport
networks.
Reliability is the most important aspect of a

MCS and new technologies are introduced only
if there are strong new requirements. Existing
TDM-based transport networks (e.g. SDH/
SONET) have proven to be highly reliable,
setting a high benchmark for future-proof
technologies.
Multiprotocol Label Switching

IP-based Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/
MPLS) is a mature packet-based technology
generally adopted in core networks environments for connection-less services. It is
dependant of a control plane for dynamic
network behavior and unidirectional in nature.
As IP/MPLS is often deployed at the core,
consolidation of core and transport networks
onto a common MPLS-based infrastucture
becomes imperative. Although, IP/MPLS knows
explict routing it is still dependant of a control
plane to set-up all connections from/to a node.
Even more so during a power failure, where
control plane needs to be set-up again for all
nodes. IP/MPLS also knows fast reroute (FRR)
mechanisms, which could achieve sub-50 ms
protection switchover. However, the data plane
switches to a temporary (reroute) bypass path
and then (in a second step) calculates a new
unidirectional path (quite complex).
MCS network operations and service activation

require secure and careful planning and engineering. Therefore, operational simplicity and
security are key to minimize operational risks
and minimize threats to guarantee continuous
and optimum service performance.
As MCS networks are required to be more
cost-efficient, packet-based technology is
becoming economically attractive as it can
support fast-growing packet-based services at
lower costs and provides the means to take
advantage of more flexible data rates and
statistical multiplexing efficiency, compared to
the rigid SDH/SONET hierarchy.
As packet-based technologies are standardized
to support the capabilities and functionalities
needed for Packet-based Transport Networks
(PTNs) services and operations through combining state-of-the-art technology with the
operational experience and practices of
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015
MPLSbased
White Paper
Glossar
The need for an MPLS Transport

Profile
Attribute
IP/MPLS
Connection
mode
Connection less
Connectionoriented
Label
switched path
Unidirectional
Uni/Bidirectional
(co-routed)
Control plane
Mandatory
Optional (NMS
provisioning
preferred)
OAM
Out-of-band OAM
In-band OAM
Protection
switching
Control plane
dependency
(> 50 ms)*
Data plane
switching
(< 50 ms)
Complexity
level
High
Low
Operational
skill set
Familiar to routing
engineers
Familiar to transport engineers
Standardization
body
IETF
IETF
MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), as defined

by IETF RFC 5921, supports the operational
models and capabilities of PTNs, including
explicit provisioned bidirectional connectionoriented paths, protection and restoration mechanisms, comprehensive Operations, Administration and Managent (OAM) functions and
network operation in the absence of a dynamic
control plane or IP forwarding support.
MPLS-TP main objectives, as a new standard,
are:
To enable MPLS to be deployed in a PTN
Figure 2: IP/MPLS vs. MPLS-TP

*IP/MPLS FRR mechanisms could achieve

sub-50 ms switchover but only for unidirectional

LSPs based on complex control protocols.
and operated in a similar manner to existing

TDM-based transport technologies (SDH,
SONET).
To enable MPLS to support packet transport
Therefore, not all IP/MPLS capabilities are

required or consistent with transport network
operations and, hence, there is a strong market
need to standardize an MPLS-based technology to meet the requirements for PTNs.
IP/MPLS
P
IP forwarding
P
Penultimate hop popping
P
Equal cost multi paths
P
Label merge
services (e.g. point-to-point, any-to-any) with

a similar degree of predictability, reliability
and OAM to that found in existing TDMbased transport networks.
TP EXTENSIONS
MPLS-TP
P
MPLS forwarding
P
Connection-oriented
P
Co-routed bidirectional LSP
Figure 3: MPLS-TP overview
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015
P
Static provisioning
P
In-band OAM
P
End-to-end OAM
driven protection switching
(sub-50 ms)
White Paper
Data Plane
MPLS forwarding
Connection-oriented bidirectional P2P LSPs
Connection-oriented unidirectional P2MP LSPs
No Penultimate Hop Popping (PHP)
No LSP merging
Pseudo wire (SS-PW, MS-PW)
No routing required
Control Plane
NMS provisioning option (preferred)
GMPLS control plane option
MPLS-TP
OAM
In-band OAM channel (G-ACh)
Extended BFD proactive Connectivity Check (CC)
and Remote Defect Indicator (RDI)
On-demand Connectivity Verification (CV)
Alarm suppression/fault indication (AIS),
Performance monitoring (LM, DM)
Resiliency
Sub-50 ms protection switchover
Linear protection 1+1, 1:1, 1:N
Figure 4: MPLS-TP as a subset of IP/MPLS
Advantanges of MPLS-TP
addition, MPLS-TP supports the logical/physical

separation of the control and management
planes from the data plane. That is, the forwarding of data (including recovery actions) is
independent of the control or management
plane used to configure the MPLS-TP layer
network.
Being connection-oriented with predictable

behaviour, MPLS-TP is optimized for transport
networks with similar features as SDH/SONET.
It is less complex and more cost effective than
IP/MPLS as it allows operation without control
protocols. It is a subset of IP/MPLS but it brings
the following additional functionality:
Statically configured connections are a very

important aspect for a MCS. As MPLS-TP data
plane can operate normally (i.e. forwarding,
OAM, and protection) if the management plane
or control plane that configured the transport
paths fails and, as configuration is stored
non-volatile in each NE, there is no need for
management or control plane to re-configure
transport paths after a e.g. power failure.
Static provisioning (operation possible

without control plane) and co-routed
bidirectional paths.
In-band OAM, performance monitoring,
alarming.
End-to-end OAM driven protection switching.
In-band OAM
Static provisioning
For correct operation of OAM mechanisms, it is

important that OAM packets fate-share with
the data packets. MPLS-TP OAM packets follow
the same path as their corresponding data
packets, and make use of a Generic Associated
Channel (G-ACh) to support Fault, Configura-
MPLS-TP allows for a Pseudo-Wire (PW) or

Label-Switched Path (LSP) to be statically
configured without the support of a dynamic
control plane. This may be achieved by direct
configuration of the Network Element (NE) or
via a Network Management System (NMS). In
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015
White Paper
One active and one standby path with guar-
tion, Accounting, Performance and Security

(FCAPS) functions by carrying packets related
to OAM, a protocol used to coordinate path
protection state, Signaling Communication
Channel (SCC), Management Communication
Channel (MCC) or other packet types in-band
over LSP, PWs or sections.
anteed bandwidth on both paths (1:1).

One active path and a standby path with
shared resources by one or more active
paths (shared protection).
The main characteristics of MPLS-TP resiliency
mechanisms can be summarized as follows:
MPLS-TP supports a comprehensive set of

OAM capabilities to perform fault management
(e.g. fault detection and localization) and
performance monitoring (e.g. packet delay and
loss measurement) for packet transport applications, equivalent to those provided in SDH.
Optimized for linear topologies.

Use in-band OAM mechanisms to detect and
localize network faults.
Include protection state coordination (PSC)
mechanisms to coordinate and trigger protection switching actions in the absence of a
Protection switching
control plane.
MPLS-TP is designed to be consistent with

existing transport network operations and
management models, while providing survivability mechanisms, such as protection switching
and restoration. The functionality provided is
intended to be similar to that found in established SDH/SONET networks that set a high
benchmark for service availability.
Support of revertive and non-revertive behavior

For example, MPLS-TP 1:1 linear protection
provides a fast and simple means to protect
co-routed bidirectional end-to-end LSPs by just
switching traffic to a pre-configured protecting
LSP (also co-routed bidirectional). In case of a
network failure, in-band OAM mechanisms
allow fast failure detection on network links and
PSC protocols ensures end-to-end coordination
of the protected LSP to achieve sub-50 ms
protection switchover. If revertive behavior is
required, a Wait-to-Restore (WTR) time would
trigger the PSC to switch back to the (restored)
working LSP.
Different protection schemes apply to different

deployment topologies and operational
considerations with different levels of resiliency:
Two concurrent traffic paths (1+1).
g
rkin
Wo P
LS
PE
PE
ng
i
tect
Pro P
LS
nt
Clieode
n
Pseudowire
Client signal
Figure 5: MPLS-TP 1:1 Linear protection
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015
nt
Clieode
n
White Paper
Conclusion
Glossary
Abbreviation
Description
AIS
Alarm Indication Signal
BFD
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
CC
Continuity Check
CV
Connectivity Verication
DM
Delay Measurement
FCAPS
Fault, Conguration, Accounting, Performance and Security
FRR
Fast Re-Route
G-ACh
Generic Associated Channel
MPLS-TP is an evolutionary step for the deployment of PTNs. It provides standardized state-
GMPLS
Generalized MPLS
IETF
Internet Engineering Task Force
of-the-art transport technology for MCS with

the highest reliability (sub-50 ms) and operational simplicity for deterministic usage of
network resources through highly secure and
centralized NMS.
IP
Internet Protocol
IP/MPLS
IP-based MPLS
LM
Loss Measurement
LSP
Label Switched Path
MCC
Management Communication Channel
MCS
Mission Critical System
MPLS
Multiprotocol Label Switching
MPLS-TP
Multiprotocol Label Switching Transport

Profile
MS-PW
Multi-Segment PW
NE
Network Element
NMS
Network Management System
OAM
Operations, Administration &

Management
PE
Provider Edge
PHP
Penultimate Hop Popping
PTN
Packet-based Transport Network
PW
Pseudo-Wire
SCC
Signaling Communication Channel
SDH
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
SONET
Synchronous Optical Networking
SS-PW
Single-Segment PW
TCO
Total Cost of Ownership
TDM
Time-Division Multiplexing
RDI
Remote Defect Indicator
RFC
Request for Change
RSTP
Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol
TDM
Time-Division Multiplexing
WTR
Wait to Restore
As MCS business organizations plan their

business strategy towards PTNs, MPLS-TP
offers an attractive architectural approach
optimized for transport network operations
leveraging the benefits of existing TDM-based
transport networks while supporting the
growing demand of packet-based services at
lower costs.
2015-10-22
KEYMILE 2015

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White Paper

MPLS-TP in Mission-Critical Systems

A Mission-Critical System (MCS) is a highly

Figure 1: Main drivers for MPLS-TP

existing transport networks, the migration

Reliability is the most important aspect of a

Multiprotocol Label Switching

MCS network operations and service activation

The need for an MPLS Transport

Familiar to transport engineers

MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), as defined

Figure 2: IP/MPLS vs. MPLS-TP

and operated in a similar manner to existing

Therefore, not all IP/MPLS capabilities are

services (e.g. point-to-point, any-to-any) with

Figure 3: MPLS-TP overview

Figure 4: MPLS-TP as a subset of IP/MPLS

addition, MPLS-TP supports the logical/physical

Being connection-oriented with predictable

Statically configured connections are a very

Static provisioning (operation possible

For correct operation of OAM mechanisms, it is

MPLS-TP allows for a Pseudo-Wire (PW) or

One active and one standby path with guar-

tion, Accounting, Performance and Security

anteed bandwidth on both paths (1:1).

MPLS-TP supports a comprehensive set of

Optimized for linear topologies.

MPLS-TP is designed to be consistent with

Support of revertive and non-revertive behavior

Different protection schemes apply to different

Figure 5: MPLS-TP 1:1 Linear protection

Alarm Indication Signal

Bidirectional Forwarding Detection

Fault, Conguration, Accounting, Performance and Security

Generic Associated Channel

Internet Engineering Task Force

of-the-art transport technology for MCS with

Label Switched Path

Management Communication Channel

Mission Critical System

Multiprotocol Label Switching

Multiprotocol Label Switching Transport

Network Management System

Operations, Administration &

Penultimate Hop Popping

Packet-based Transport Network

Signaling Communication Channel

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy

Synchronous Optical Networking

Total Cost of Ownership

Remote Defect Indicator

Request for Change

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol

As MCS business organizations plan their

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