Comparison between Traditional IP Networks/Routing and MPLS

This paper gives the theoretical comparison between Traditional IP Networks and MPLS. MPLS stands for Multiprotocol Label Switching. MPLS was created to combine the benefits of connectionless Layer 3 and forwarding with connection-oriented Layer 2 forwarding. MPLS clearly separate the control plane, where Layer 3 routing protocols establish the paths used for forwarding, and data plane, where Layer 2 label switched paths forward data packets swapping. The simplicity of data plane packet forwarding and its similarity to existing Layer 2 technologies enable traditional WAN equipment (ATM or Frame Relay switches) to be redeployed as MPLS nodes just with software upgrades to their control plane. In traditional IP network, a router analyzes the destination IP address independently at each hop. Dynamic routing or static routing builds the database needed to analyze the destination IP address. Traditional IP networks/routing has several well-known limitations, ranging from scalability issues to poor support of TE.