This tutorial discusses the L2 VPN-over-MPLS solutions being standardized in the IETF. The first part of the session covers the drivers, the enterprise perspective of the main models (Virtual Private Wire Services, VPWS, and Virtual Private LAN Service, VPLS)  and related technology in the standards.  The second section describes the building blocks common to all L2 VPN models. The third part of the tutorial discusses the specifics of VPWS and VPLS. We also discuss Layer 2 internetworking concepts, i.e., bridged and routed mode solutions, options for ARP mediation, options for MPLS encapsulation, and end to end OAM. Configuration examples from several vendors will be given for the various solutions covered in the tutorial.

This session requires a basic understanding of MPLS technology, including control plane and data plane concepts. We begin with simple, generic models, and move gradually to more complex concepts to appeal to a variety of attendees: product managers, network planners/architects, system engineers, network operations staff, customer support, applications engineering, and development engineers who are new to the area of MPLS L2 VPN services.

An outline of the session follows:

1. Introduction to L2VPNs over MPLS
   • Drivers, High-level Definitions, Standards
2. IETF Generic Models
   • Information Model/Provisioning
   • Control Plane: Auto-discovery, Signaling
   • Data Plane: Attachment Circuits, Virtual Forwarders, Pseudo-wires
3. Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS)
   • Provisioning models (e.g., single-sided, double-sided provisioning), and related concepts (Gid, PWid FEC etc)
   • Configuration Examples
4. Layer 2 Internetworking
   • Encapsulation options: Bridged/Routed Mode, MPLS
   • Packet walkthrough, ARP Mediation
   • Service OAM
   • Configuration Example
5. Virtual Private Line Service (VPLS)
   • LDP, BGP VPLS commonalities and differences
   • VPLS Signaling, Data Plane
   • Configuration Example
6. Summary

Mike Loomis holds a BS in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire. Mike has eight years of data networking experience at Bay Networks and Nortel Networks. He has held a variety of product management positions in Network Management, Enterprise Switching, and Optical Ethernet business units. His recent focus has been on L2 VPNs over MPLS, the evolution toward Ethernet, and VPLS.