Adrian Farrel

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a data plane and control technology that is used in packet (that is Internet Protocol) networks. Now over ten years old, it has taken root firmly as a fundamental tool in many service provider networks. The last ten years have seen a considerable consolidation of MPLS techniques and protocols. This has resulted in the abandoning of some of the original features of MPLS, and the development of other new features. MPLS has moved from a prospective solution, to a grown-up technology. Now that MPLS has reached this level of maturity, these new tools and features allow more sophisticated services to the users of the network. These tools and features are discussed within various contexts throughout several networking-related books published by MK and this presents us with a unique publishing opportunity. The proposed book is a best-of-the-best collection of existing content from several books MK has published in recent years on MPLS technology (multi-label protocol switching). Individual chapters on MPLS technology are derived from a handful of MK books and are combined in one new volume in a way that makes sense as a reference work for those interested in new and developing aspects of this technology, i.e., network operators and designers who need to determine which aspects of their networks would benefit from MPLS technology and applications. It also serves as a definitive reference for engineers implementing MPLS-based products.This book represents a quick and efficient way to bring valuable content together from leading experts in the field while creating a one-stop-shopping opportunity for customers to receive the information they would otherwise need to round up from separate sources. Suitable and current content will be collected from the following titles: Evans, Deploying IP and MPLS QoS (2006); Farrel, GMPLS (2005); Ash, Traffic Engineering (2006); Vasseur, Network Recovery (2005); Farrel, The Internet and Its Protocols (2004); Nadeau, MPLS Management (2003); and Davie, MPLS Technology and Applications (2000). These chapters will be updated where necessary and two new chapters will be added at the beginning and the end of the book to bring the content into focus and discuss next generation developments.

The last two years have seen significant developments in the standardization of GMPLS and its implementation in optical and other networks. GMPLS: Architecture and Applications brings you completely up to date, providing the practical information you need to put the growing set of GMPLS-supported services to work and manage them effectively. This book begins by defining GMPLS’s place in a transport network, leveraging your knowledge of MPLS to give you an understanding of this radically new control plane technology. An overview of GMPLS protocols follows, but the real focus is on what comes afterwards: in-depth examinations of the architectures underpinning GMPLS in real-world network environments and current and emerging GMPLS applications. This one-of-a-kind resource delivers immensely useful information for software architects, designers and programmers, hardware developers, system testers, and network operators--and also for managers and other decision-makers.

The view presented in The Internet and Its Protocols is at once broad and deep. It covers all the common protocols and how they combine to create the Internet in its totality. More importantly, it describes each one completely, examining the requirements it addresses and the exact means by which it does its job. These descriptions include message flows, full message formats, and message exchanges for normal and error operation. They are supported by numerous diagrams and tables.This book's comparative approach gives you something more valuable: insight into the decisions you face as you build and maintain your network, network device, or network application. Author Adrian Farrel’s experience and advice will dramatically smooth your path as you work to offer improved performance and a wider range of services.