MPLS For Linux

MPLS for Linux is a open source effort to create a set of MPLS signaling protocols and an MPLS forwarding plane for the Linux OS.

So far a MPLS forwarding plane for the Linux 2.6.x kernel tree and an implementation of RFC3036 (LDP) have been created.

MPLS for Linux is made up of two projects:

1. mpls-linux -- MPLS forwarding for the Linux Kernel

· Ethernet interfaces · PPP interfaces · Virtual MPLS tunnel interface · Global or interface specific labelspaces · Label stacking · Recursive label lookups · Any entry in the Linux routing table can have an outgoing label associated with it (this include multiple table support, TOS, and per interface routing) · Integration with Linux QoS model · DiffServ support (E-LSPs and L-LSPs) · Ethernet over MPLS (via ebtables) · Penultimate Hop Popping - PHP (can also be used to avoid IPv4 lookup on egress LER) · (Support for ATM interfaces was removed)

2. ldp-portable -- a portable implementation of RFC3036

· Unsolicited and on demand modes are implemented · Direct and indirect peers · Distribution of labels controlled by policy · Integration with quagga routing platform (see quagga-mpls below) · Flexible configuration API (mimics LDP-MIB)

MPLS for Linux started out as a protocol analyzer for the LDP protocol. It utilized a set of encode and decode functions developed by Nortel Networks. It was originally developed for the N+I Las Vegas '99 MPLS iLab. By the time N+I Atlanta '99 rolled around it had matured in to a make shift implementation of LDP-03. During N+I Atlanta '99 it was re-written to follow the procedures from Appendix A of LDP-05. In April of 2000 I joined Laurel Networks (www.laurelnetworks.com). I was allowed to continue development of LDP as long as I made it portable. With this in mind the linux-mpls-ldp package was split into two packages: mpls-linux (the Linux Kernel based forwarding plane released under the GPL) and ldp-portable (a portable version of the LDP protocol released under the LGPL). The project moved to Sourceforge on 11/30/2000. In January of 2003 I started working for iNOC (www.internetnoc.com) where I have been encouraged to continuing working on this project and be involved in the standardization bodies associated with MPLS.