Multiprotocol label switching is a method for transmitting information over any network, using labels to classify and prioritize data packets. It requires hardware support and is preferred due to its speed and reliability.
Multiprotocol label switching is a method used to transmit information over a network. Unlike most transfer protocols, multiprotocol label switching works on any network or set of networks, regardless of the hardware or protocols involved. Using this method, the data is given a label that designates the type of forwarding it will receive. When data arrives at a transfer point, it is classified entirely by its label rather than destination or content.
Data moves across networks in small chunks called packets. These packets contain the data being sent, the address the information is going to, and the address where it originated from. Also, these packets can contain a lot of other information depending on the protocols used.
When a system uses multiprotocol tag switching, one of this other pieces of information is the designator tag for the packet. This label classifies information based on content and importance. Additionally, the label can designate a specific transfer method, essentially creating a solid line between the start and end points of the information.
Most of the time, a network will read some of the information included in the packet and prioritize based on which packets are moving at the moment. The label on the package allows the network to simply trust the label and send the information accordingly. This speeds up transmission and ensures that important information goes first.
When using data networks that do not use packets, such as a synchronous transfer mode, information can still be tagged and transferred. The label contains the important information for the transfer and the network will send it in any form it needs. This process is very rare and makes multi-protocol label switching a preferred method in many cases.
To perform multi-protocol label switching, your hardware must support the process. While many high-end network systems have this protocol, low- to mid-range systems are less likely to use it. When tagged information hits a piece of hardware that doesn’t support the protocol, several things can happen. The hardware can release the information and send it as it sees fit with the label intact or send it without the label.
Since the label is the center of this process, most systems plan the transmission of information before it goes. By selecting only known systems that use multi-protocol label switching, you can ensure that your data is handled correctly. While this process is usually handled by the system, it is possible for a user to manually route information using this method.
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