RFC 3353 (rfc3353) - Page 3 of 30
Overview of IP Multicast in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Environment
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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