MPLS Forwarding Infrastructure

[Mukarram Jah Raheel]

Cisco 12.4T IOS command reference states following:

The MPLS control plane software is enhanced to make MPLS more scalable and flexible. The MFI,

which manages MPLS data structures used for forwarding, replaces the Label Forwarding Information

Base (LFIB).

Note The MFI and LFIB do not coexist in the same image. Users must use MFI starting with Cisco IOS

Release 12.4(20)T and later releases.

what about guys preparing for CCIEv4 exam, should they be familiar with this MFI.

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello Mukarram,

I would say you need to be just aware of it and to know some changes in sh mpls forwarding IF the IOS images used in the lab are 12.4(20)T or newer.

There was another thread about this and some changes in the action associated to VPN labels had been described by Cisco Expert Harold Ritter.

From a configuration and troubleshooting point of view this change should have limited impact as described in that thread.

MFI may have the potential for new features however "conventional" MPLS should be enough for CCIE routing and switching lab also in CCIE R&S ver.4 because the CCIE service provider lab is really focused on MPLS.

see Ask the Expert with Maurilio Gorito about CCIE v4

http://forum.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/NetProf?page=netprof&forum=Career%20Certifications&topic=Certifications&topicID=.ee702b1&fromOutline=&CommCmd=MB%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay_location%26location%3D.2cd32078

Hope to help

Giuseppe