MPLS Label Forwarding Visualization

How MPLS Label Forwarding Works

Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a routing technique in telecommunications networks that directs data from one network node to the next based on short path labels rather than longer network addresses.

Key Components:

• Label Edge Router (LER): The entry and exit points to the MPLS network.
• Label Switch Router (LSR): Core routers in the MPLS network that perform label swapping.
• Label: A short, fixed-length identifier that's attached to packets.
• Label Switched Path (LSP): The path through the MPLS network followed by a packet.

Label Forwarding Process:

1. Ingress LER receives a packet and adds an MPLS label.
2. Each LSR performs a table lookup based on the incoming label.
3. The LSR swaps the label with a new one and forwards the packet.
4. The Egress LER removes the label and forwards the packet to its final destination.