* Immerse yourself in MPLS
A couple of years ago we mentioned that one of the toughest tasks at that time was getting trained on new technologies. With slashed training budgets, most companies simply didn’t have the resources to send their staffs to conferences and formal training classes. We can’t see that this situation has gotten any better. As a partial solution to this problem, Webtorials has continued its partnership with MPLScon to make available online what is essentially the entire MPLScon 2006 program.
Obviously, just having the handouts still can’t compare with the experience of actually attending the conference in person and interacting with your peers. Nevertheless, for those of you who were unable to attend MPLScon 2006 last May, and for those of you who attended but want to refer to the handouts online, this is a fantastic resource.
We see the full-length tutorials from the MFA Forum as being an especially valuable resource, consisting of 100 to 200 slides in the three tutorials ranging from in “Introduction to MPLS” to “MPLS VPN Security.”
Here’s a sampling of some of the additional materials that are now available from the 2006 MPLScon program, with the descriptions below from the abstracts of the presentations:
* MPLS VPN Security Best Practice Guidelines:
This presentation defines security and provides an overview of the security pillers, for example, architectural and operational. The presenters explore potential attack points and provide best practice guidelines in securing these vulnerabilities. As organizations deploy MPLS, there are security concerns when extending VPNv4 capabilities across multiple administrative domains and multiple providers. The presenters will explain security risks for RFC2547bis deployment scenarios for Inter-AS deployments and provide recommendations in order to mitigate against potential attacks when implementing RFC2547bis models, such as A, B or C. The presenters will conclude with best practice tips for the operator.
* Role of MPLS in Next Generation IMS Architecture:
Service providers think of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) as “It Means Services.” For end users, IMS means consistent user experiences across different domains, networks and applications. Based on 3GPP and 3GPP2 specifications for the delivery of IP applications, IMS has been positioned as THE tool for delivery of real-time peer-to-peer applications and blended lifestyle services. As such, over the past year many vendors in telecom have included IMS in their product messaging. Now, with several network rollouts linked to IMS, operators will want tangible evidence of how IMS translates into new revenue-generating services and also want to plan for how to evolve their access and core transport network in support of such services.
This presentation will highlight IMS architecture evolution, where it stands in standard bodies, role of MPLS in next generation IMS architectures and how such networks will offer the reliability and QoS expected for IMS-based application and services.
* Implementing IPv6 and IPv6 VPN in MPLS Networks:
This presentation discusses the technologies for implementing IPv6 and IPv6 BGP/MPLS VPNs in MPLS network. First, we give a brief overview of the drivers of IPv6 and IPv6 VPN deployment, followed by a discussion of the technical implementation issues. The general service provider requirements are also addressed, as are the challenges in design and deployment of IPv6/IPv6 MPLS VPN in an IPv4 MPLS network.
These are just three out of the more than 35 presentations that are available. If you need an update on the nitty-gritty of MPLS, this continues to be a great resource.
