| After four years working in the IT field, I've | | | | function very well, and of course, it would be |
| never encountered the term MPLS Internet | | | | wonderful if it doesn't put a hole in our pockets |
| before. Kinda ironic, huh? You would think that a | | | | too! |
| person who makes a living in the Internet would | | | | One of the significant functions of MPLS is that it |
| know all about this. But sadly, I didn't. Not until | | | | provides new capabilities in 4 important areas: |
| now. | | | | quality of service (QoS), Virtual Private Networks |
| Finally I stumbled upon the term, and I became | | | | (VPNs) traffic engineering, and multiprotocol |
| interested. Naturally, out of curiosity, I did a little | | | | support. It is a technique that is popular and |
| research. And after reading a few articles, I found | | | | readily adopted for the reason that it's effective. |
| out that, apparently, MPLS is the latest | | | | A lot of networks are dealing with increased |
| networking technology craze. But what is MPLS | | | | mixtures of traffic nowadays. Like, for instance, |
| anyway? What really is it all about? Multiprotocol | | | | you have a client that needs to provide streaming |
| Label Switching (MPLS) is basically a technology | | | | videos and audios to their customers online. Can |
| designed to divert or route network traffic | | | | you imagine how big an Internet connection |
| around congestion and failures, therefore it | | | | they're going to need for that? Pretty big, I |
| speeds up network traffic flow. Without any | | | | should say. Or what about those companies who |
| involvement from the user, it makes it easier to | | | | need a lot of bandwidth for their online processes, |
| manage. It's called multiprotocol because not only | | | | or those Internet entrepreneurs or individual |
| does it work with the Internet Protocol (IP), but | | | | businesses that need a reliable Internet |
| also with various other network protocols and | | | | connection? That's where MPLS kicks in. It gives |
| ATM. Wireless service providers use this piece of | | | | network operators a lot of flexibility to divert |
| technology because it improves quality of service. | | | | traffic around congestion and bottlenecks, and it's |
| Not only that, it also minimizes delays and it helps | | | | fast and cost-efficient, thus providing an excellent |
| keep things on track with customers, in terms of | | | | solution to most Internet network problems. |
| service level agreements. | | | | Although MPLS is a secure technology, if you |
| It's actually a bit complicated to digest all the | | | | decide to add internet service to your network, |
| technical terms, but if you're really interested and | | | | you might want to take precautionary steps to |
| fascinated with this kind of technology, it shouldn't | | | | protect your network. |
| be all that difficult to understand. I won't attempt | | | | AT&T products nowadays include MPLS internet |
| to describe every single detail of how it works; | | | | because it is a good technology. Products range |
| you can research that yourself in the Internet. | | | | from AT&T HSI (High Speed Internet) - DSL to |
| But what I DO have to say is that, MPLS plays a | | | | High Bandwidth Internet Solutions that Ensures |
| strong role in improving network performance | | | | customers will have a secure, fast, and dedicated |
| without companies or individuals spending or | | | | Internet access. Sounds good, huh? I know I've |
| investing too much on new equipment or services. | | | | only discovered this recently, but I'm sure glad I |
| Now, doesn't that sound nice? We need an | | | | did. It's pretty useful to know that there are |
| Internet service that won't give us too much | | | | solutions readily available to us Internet-based |
| stress, one that will enable our businesses to | | | | workers. |