IETF Debates On: MPLS Is Bad

A reader writes "MPLS, or Multi-protocol Label Switching, seems to be a popular choice for router vendors nowadays until two AT&T researchers argue it differently. They "say MPLS create serious network management challenges for Internet backbone providers." "Even more dire are their warnings about potential security and privacy problems for companies that deploy MPLS-based VPNs." This issue will be discussed on an IETF meeting held this week in London. More details here ." Related to the IETF ^[?] , this submission came in: The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is now meeting in London for IETF-51. You can watch multicast sessions. "

Comments

Re:MPLS sucks

[Abcd1234]

LOL! I'm guessing you just didn't get enough sleep, but how 'bout I use your example, and you tell me if ">= 3" is really the same as "> 2", 'kay?

2.5 > 2 - True
2.5 >= 3 - False

Hmm... so... whaddaya think?

BTW, yes, I am nitpicking here, but this was too funny not to respond to. :)

Re:Umm..

[Quixote]

Say from California to New York. . . . When a packet arrives at a MPLS router (head end router) in New York the router encapsulates it...... Finally the router at the end of the LSP (in New York in our example) removes the MPLS encapsulation

This MPLS thing looks impressive: it can send packets safely from New York to New York without getting mugged. Where can I get one?

Hey now!

[Xaroth]

Just because they all love St. Paul doesn't mean they can bash MPLS that much! Oh, wait. They don't mean Minneapolis, do they. Nevermind.

Re:The IETF loves saying things are bad...

[Swaffs]

IKE, for instance (the key exchange mechanism used by the IPsec security protocol) has also been pronounced "bad" and is going to be replaced or modified.

That's an odd pronunciation...