Description
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is one of the most powerful technologies used in modern service provider and enterprise networks. Unlike traditional routing protocols that make forwarding decisions based solely on IP routing tables, MPLS uses labels to efficiently direct traffic through the network, improving scalability, flexibility, and performance.
MPLS enables advanced networking services that are commonly deployed by Internet Service Providers, data centers, and large organizations. These services include Layer 3 VPNs using VRF, Layer 2 VPNs using VPLS, traffic engineering, and other technologies designed to support complex network architectures.
This course provides a practical introduction to MPLS using MikroTik RouterOS, starting with the fundamental concepts before progressing into real-world deployments and advanced implementations. Through a combination of theory and extensive hands-on labs, students will learn how MPLS operates and how to deploy MPLS-based services in production environments.
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to MPLS
- MPLS Fundamentals
- MPLS Labels and Label Operations
- MPLS Filtering
- Layer 3 VPNs with VRF
- Layer 2 VPNs with VPLS
- MPLS Traffic Engineering
- MPLS Design and Deployment Best Practices
The course is heavily focused on hands-on lab exercises, providing practical experience with MPLS configuration, troubleshooting, and deployment on MikroTik routers. To complete the lab environment, GNS3 is recommended, as some scenarios require multiple MikroTik routers. Physical MikroTik devices may also be used if available.
Whether the goal is to expand networking expertise, deploy MPLS services in a production network, or gain a deeper understanding of service provider technologies, this course provides the knowledge and practical experience needed to work confidently with MPLS on MikroTik platforms.
Who this course is for
- Engineers who work in Internet Service Provider using MikroTik Routers and want to deploy MPLS
- Students who want to learn how to configure MPLS on MikroTik routers
What you'll learn
- Understand what is MPLS and where to use it
- Understand how to have a BGP free core in your ISP using MPLS
- Understand the MPLS acronyms ((CE, PE, P, Label Push, Label Swap, Label Pop)
- Configure MPLS using the static labeling
- Configure MPLS using the dynamic labeling
- Filter MPLS using Accept and Advertise Filter
- Understand and configure VRF lite on MikroTik
- Understand MPLS layer 3 VPN using VRF
- Configure MPLS layer 3 VPN using VRF
- Understand and configure MPLS layer 2 VPN using VPLS
- Understand what is MPLS Traffic Engineering
- Configure MPLS Traffic Engineering
- Run VPLS over TE Tunnels
Requirements
- Good knowledge of BGP routing protocol
- Good knowledge of OSPF routing protocol