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Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary
A wide area networking protocol that operates at both Layer 2 and Layer 3 and does label switching.
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Definition: A wide area networking protocol that operates at both Layer 2 and Layer 3 and does label switching.
A wide area networking protocol that operates at both Layer 2 and Layer 3 and does label switching. MPLS is a high-performance networking technology that directs data from one network node to the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, reducing the complexity of routing decisions. It operates between the traditional Layer 2 (data link) and Layer 3 (network) and enables efficient traffic engineering, QoS mechanisms, and virtual private networks. MPLS standards are defined in various IETF RFCs, including RFC 3031, with security considerations in RFC 4381. Organizations implement MPLS for wide area networks, carrier services, traffic engineering, and creating secure network paths across public infrastructure. For example, a multinational corporation might use MPLS services from a telecommunications provider to create a secure, reliable wide area network connecting global offices with guaranteed performance characteristics and traffic prioritization for latency-sensitive applications like voice and video. Related terms: WAN, Traffic engineering, VPN, Quality of Service, Label switching, Network routing, Carrier networks.
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is one of the topics you'll master in the Cisco CCNA Boot Camp.
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