Why client needs MPLS configuration on his side ?

[yangfrank]

Dear All

Usually MPLS is configured at ISP PE. But I heard MPLS is configured at CE client side. Why ? what is its advantage ?

Thank you

[sean_evershed · Accepted solution]

Do you mean MPLS VPN?

If so then this makes it more complicated and expensive for the customer. As a result they may choose to use another ISP who doesn't have these requirements:

- It is a risk to the provider. If they are not careful then their routes might start leaking into the customer network.

- The customer will now need network engineers who are skilled in MPLS VPN configurations and troubleshooting. For smaller companies this may be a bit of challenge.

- The customer needs a more expensive router that supports MPLS and MP-iBGP functionality in order to connect to the PE.

- The customer now needs to become involved in the VRF design as to which routes belong to which VRF. Depending on the number of routes involved this can be a time consuming process.

- Troubleshooting connectivity issues between the PE and CE are now more complicated and will potentially take longer to resolve.

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[yangfrank]

Thank you for your helpful reply! Yes, MPLS VPN

I would like to know what is advantage of setting up MPLS at client site ? 

"- It is a risk to the provider. If they are not careful then their routes might start leaking into the customer network." --- what routes might start leaking into customer network ? If correct RT is configured, it could be helpful ?

If I want to rate the posts, I just need to click "Correct Answer", right ? 

[sean_evershed · Accepted solution]

Yes, RT will help prevent that.

MPLS VPN is being used now within large campus networks. See below this example from a university. It allows customers to virtualise their network so they can separate traffic between different groups of users. It also allows overlapping addresses and helps with security compliance.

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[yangfrank]

Great! Thank you

BTW, Customer Edge (CE) Router connects to Provider Edge (PE) Router. Which one is CPE ? 

[sean_evershed]

The CE is the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).

[yangfrank]

Usually client is not responsible for configuration of CPE. If CE is CPE, it means that the client is not responsible for the CE. Am I right ? 

[sammynom]

Hi Yangfrank,

clients are responsible for their equipment and configuration.

Regards,

SN

[yangfrank]

Thank you !

[sammynom]

You are welcome!

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Posting

You would configure MPLS on the CE if the customer needed MPLS features, for example, if customer was already using MPLS internally and they wanted to extend it across a WAN provider's cloud.

Perhaps more often the customer doesn't use MPLS "natively", and so they don't configure MPLS on the CE.  However, they might still take advantage of an MPLS WAN cloud, "indirectly".  For example, the CE<>PE might have multiple interfaces, each hosting different VLANs or "MetroE" handoffs, or there might be a single CE<>PE link using VLAN tags (rather than MPLS tags).