MPLS & MPLS VPN Lab
Build a complete service provider MPLS core from the ground up — label distribution, frame-mode MPLS, MPLS Layer 3 VPNs, PE-CE routing integration, complex multi-site and Central Services VPN designs, internet access models, and MPLS Traffic Engineering.
The launch will be soonCourse Highlights
Label Distribution & LDP
Master LSR/LER architecture, label stacks, LDP neighbor discovery, session establishment, and CEF label switching operations.
MPLS Layer 3 VPNs
Implement MP-BGP, VRF instances, and routing architectures connecting CE, PE, and P routers across the service provider core.
PE-CE Integration
Configure dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP) and static routing between provider edge and customer edge routers.
Complex VPN Topologies
Deploy overlapping VPN topologies, shared Central Services VPNs, and managed CE router architectures.
Internet Access Models
Combine public internet access with MPLS VPN environments using global routing tables, dedicated VRFs, or centralized hub sites.
MPLS Traffic Engineering
Configure RSVP, OSPF-TE/IS-IS-TE routing extensions, constraint-based routing, and explicit path TE tunnels.
Real Service Provider Core Build Experience
Designed for CCNP/CCIE Service Provider candidates and working network engineers who need real service provider core build experience beyond slides and simulators.
Gain intensive, hands-on practice covering core MPLS, label switching, VPN architectures, and traffic engineering scenarios found directly on official Cisco exams.
- From Scratch Implementation: Build service provider core topologies from unconfigured nodes up to active label forwarding.
- Complete PE-CE Redistribution: Practice all four PE-CE routing protocols and understand redistribution trade-offs.
- Advanced Core Optimization: Optimize core bandwidth and traffic paths using RSVP and MPLS Traffic Engineering tunnels.
Technologies Covered
- ✓ Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Architecture & Label Stacks
- ✓ Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) & CEF Integration
- ✓ MPLS Layer 3 VPNs (PE, P, and CE Router Topologies)
- ✓ Multiprotocol BGP (MP-BGP) & VRF Table Management
- ✓ PE-CE Dynamic Routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and Static Routes)
- ✓ Overlapping VPN Topologies & Central Services VPNs
- ✓ Internet Access Models (GRT, Dedicated VRF, & Hub-Site Firewall)
- ✓ MPLS Traffic Engineering (OSPF-TE / IS-IS-TE Routing Extensions)
- ✓ Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) & Label/Path Reservation
- ✓ Constraint-Based Routing & Explicit Path TE Tunnels
Modules & Topics
- Introduction to Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
- Limitations of traditional IP routing vs. MPLS high-performance forwarding
- MPLS terminology: LSR (Label Switching Router), LER (Label Edge Router), LSP (Label Switched Path)
- Structure of the MPLS label header and the label stack
- Core applications of MPLS (VPNs, Traffic Engineering, Any Transport over MPLS)
- Overview of Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)
- Discovering LDP neighbors and establishing sessions
- Label assignment, advertisement, and retention modes
- Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) operation and its role in MPLS
- Convergence mechanisms in frame-mode MPLS
- Enabling CEF and frame-mode MPLS on Cisco devices
- Managing IP Time-to-Live (TTL) propagation in an MPLS network
- Monitoring MPLS operations and verifying label tables
- Troubleshooting common frame-mode MPLS implementation issues
- Overview of VPN technologies (Overlay vs. Peer-to-Peer models)
- MPLS VPN architecture components: Customer Edge (CE), Provider Edge (PE), and Provider (P) routers
- Routing and packet-forwarding models in MPLS VPNs
- The role of Multiprotocol BGP (MP-BGP) and Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables
- Configuring MP-BGP sessions between PE routers
- Creating and managing VRF instances
- Configuring PE-CE routing protocols: static routes, RIPv2/EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP
- Monitoring and troubleshooting MPLS VPN routing and forwarding
- Implementing overlapping VPN topologies
- Configuring Central Services VPNs (shared services across multiple sites)
- Managed CE router services implementation
- Combining public internet access with MPLS VPN environments
- Internet access via the global routing table on the PE router
- Internet access via a separate VRF
- Centralized internet access through a firewall or dedicated hub site, and the trade-offs of each approach
- Limitations of traditional IGP shortest-path routing
- MPLS Traffic Engineering components: OSPF-TE/IS-IS-TE routing extensions and RSVP for label/path reservation
- Explicit path calculation and constraint-based routing
- Configuring and monitoring basic MPLS TE tunnels on Cisco IOS platforms
Start Your Lab Experience
Lab Hours Booking
Reserve access to a dedicated, pre-wired service provider MPLS lab environment and use your purchased lab hours whenever it suits you.
- Direct access via browser and internet connection
- Dedicated Cisco IOS routers configured as P, PE, CE, and Route Reflectors
- Full control over LDP, MP-BGP, VRFs, and RSVP Traffic Engineering tunnels
- Zero hardware required on your side
- Schedule your lab session for any available date and time