heh. The myth that MPLS is, operationally, somehow "Faster" than standard IP routing can be chalked up to our friends at various hardware manufacturers. MPLS, for MPLS's sake has caused only network instability, rather than enhanced performance. There are a few good applications for MPLS in the metro - Layer 2 MPLS VPNs are one of them. Keep in mind - many of the metro gig-e providers hyped MPLS for purposes of pleasing analysts and VCs, rather than any technical benefits. - Daniel Golding -----Original Message----- From: owner-nanog@merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog@merit.edu]On Behalf Of Quibell, Marc Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:20 AM To: 'srihari varada'; nanog@merit.edu Subject: RE: MPLS in metro access networks I would think faster switching/routing and less processing would be wanted in any mid-to-large sized network...I'm not sure what load balancing and fault restoration has to do with MPLS.... Marc -----Original Message----- From: srihari varada [mailto:varada@txc.com] Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 10:12 AM To: nanog@merit.edu Subject: MPLS in metro access networks Hello: I have heard some stressing the role of MPLS in metro access networks. It is difficult for me to visualize the need for it in them while it is not so difficult to understand the utility (load balancing and fault restoration etc.) of it in the metro backbone networks. To characterize metro access networks in the context, the following is provided: -- aggregates traffic from residential (arriving via broadband access links such as xDSL, Cable) and business consumers (arriving via broadband access links such as xDSL and high speed links such as Ethernet or SONET) -- funnels aggregated traffic to metro backbone networks for destination hosts in the local metro region or remote regions across the internet regional and backbone networks. Majority of such access networks are SONET/ATM based (I didn't come across any case of Gig Ethernet. However, I do not preculde it). Thus, there are two questions: -- Are there known RBOCs/ILECs and CLECs entrenching MPLS in the said network scope? (I do not see many major ILECs in the un-official MPLS service providers list being circulated but it may mean little) -- If so, what motivates them to do so? Any analysis of the driving forces is appreciated. Regards, Srihari Varada