MPLS is also useful as a VPN provisioning tool in the Metro space, especially to allow the provisioning of end-to-end PVCs regardless of Layer 2 transport. For example, a service provider could use MPLS-VPNs to link sites on its Ethernet MAN to sites on its DSL or Frame Relay services. Also, you may wish to check out Riverstone's collection of papers on Etherent, MANs and MPLS available at: http://www.riverstonenet.com/technology/ and the MPLS Resource Center - www.mplsrc.com Irwin -----Original Message----- From: srihari varada [mailto:varada@txc.com] Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:12 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