RFC 3353 (rfc3353) - Page 3 of 30

Overview of IP Multicast in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Environment

RFC 3353          IP Multicast in an MPLS Environment        August 2002


Table of Abbreviations

   ATM     Asynchronous Transfer Node
   CBT     Core Based Tree
   CoS     Class of Service
   DLCI    Data Link Connection Identifier
   DRrecv  Designated Router of the receiver
   DRsend  Designated Router of the sender
   DVMRP   Distant Vector Multicast Routing Protocol
   FR      Frame Relay
   IGMP    Internet Group Management Protocol
   IP      Internet Protocol
   L2      layer 2 (e.g. ATM, Frame Relay)
   L3      layer 3 (e.g. IP)
   LSP     Label Switched Path
   LSR     Label Switching Router
   LSRd    Downstream LSR
   LSRu    Upstream LSR
   MOSPF   Multicast OSPF
   mp2mp   multipoint-to-multipoint
   MRT     Multicast Routing Table
   p2mp    point-to-multipoint
   PIM-DM  Protocol Independent Multicast-Dense Mode
   PIM-SM  Protocol Independent Multicast-Sparse Mode
   QoS     Quality of Service
   RP      Rendezvous Point
   RPT-bit RP Tree bit [DEER]
   RSVP    Resource reSerVation Protocol
   SPT-bit Shortest Path Tree [DEER]
   SSM     Source Specific Multicast
   TCP     Transmission Control Protocol
   UDP     User Datagram Protocol
   VC      Virtual Circuit
   VCI     Virtual Circuit Identifier
   VP      Virtual Path
   VPI     Virtual Path Identifier

1. Introduction

   In an MPLS cloud the routes are determined by a L3 routing protocol.
   These routes can then be mapped onto L2 paths to enhance network
   performance.  Besides this, MPLS offers a vehicle for enhanced
   network services such as QoS/CoS, traffic engineering, etc.

   Current unicast routing protocols generate a same (optimal) shortest
   path in steady state for a certain (source, destination) pair.
   Remark that unicast protocols can behave slightly different with
   regard to equal cost paths.



Ooms, et al.                 Informational