With the growing interest in MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) services for business's WANs, it's a good idea to ask yourself whether this technology is right for your company.

First of all, it's important to know that MPLS is a technology, not a service. MPLS acts as the backbone for your network, running underneath services such as Frame Relay, wide-area Ethernet, native IP and ATM. While the advantages of an MPLS service are mainly to the carrier, businesses using this technology can expect to see a cost savings (especially when utilizing voice and data), better control over their networks as well as QoS (quality of service). QoS is the main advantage of (and reason IT executives purchase) MPLS services, especially for companies utilizing voice and video.

When deciding if MPLS technology is right for your business, consider the following:

* Your business generates lots of any-to-any traffic. While most companies don't fall in this category, those that take part in a convergence project such as voice and video can see dramatic cost-savings when compared to using Frame Relay or ATM.
* Your business is planning a convergence project. Organizations will see an immediate cost-savings of 25% or more when voice and video traffic is blended with the MPLS WAN. When combining the video traffic with a MPLS data network, which usually requires an expensive ISDN circuit when used with Frame Relay or ATM, you can see how the any-to-any applications can save businesses big money.
* You business utilizes or is planning on utilizing a next-generation computing infrastructure such as Web services, peer-to-peer or grid computing. These applications generate the any-to-any traffic patterns and require QoS capabilities. For some financial institutions, grid computing is the primary driver behind MPLS.

If any of the above mentioned situations are how your business is run or is the direction you're planning to go, you'll want to look into MPLS-based services. It's important to consider all network options before making such a purchase for your business. First determine if MPLS can help or hinder your business before taking the plunge. If this technology will help, then go for it!




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Rucker

Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is a viable network service that outperforms current systems such as Frame Relay and ATM. MPLS is appealing to businesses because of its faster speeds, scalability, quality-of-service (QoS) management, and traffic engineering. MPLS is the "new kid on the block" so to speak. It meets the bandwidth and service requirements for current and future Internet protocol (IP)-based backbone networks. MPLS is also compatible with existing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and frame-relay networks.

When considering an MPLS service for your business, ask yourself the following questions to determine if MPLS is right for your business network:

* Is convergence part of your business plan, or have you already initiated a convergence?

* Does your business have numerous satellite offices, each having low-to-medium bandwidth requirements?

* Is your organization global?

* Is technology a competitive aspect for your organization?

If you answered "yes" to three or more of these questions, you should migrate your business network service to a MPLS. If you answered "yes" to two of these questions, then you should seriously consider this service over Frame Relay or ATM.

MPLS is effectively geared for present day network backbone requirements by providing a standards-based solution that accomplishes the following:

* Increased network performance for packet-forwarding
* Supports QoS and CoS for service differentiation
* Supports network scalability
* Incorporates seamlessly with IP and ATM systems
* Compatible with existing network services

In summary, MPLS offers a more manageable and cost-effective network solution. Not only is the system simpler, but also more responsive, scalable and flexible by offering multiple services.





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Rucker

Is your business trying to decide whether to move to MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching)? If so, here are five reasons to make the switch:

COST-EFFECTIVE: MPLS services can save a company between 10% to 25% compared to Frame Relay and ATM data services. If voice and data capabilities are added, the savings can jump up to approximately 40% for the entire network.

QOS CAPABILITIES: One main advantage of using MPLS services is its QoS capabilities. This is of upmost importance for companies utilizing voice and video.

PERFORMANCE UPGRADE: Increased response time and improved application performance are advantages for utilizing MPLS services. This reduces the number of "hops" between network points, which are the "any-to-any" features MPLS offers.

DISASTER RECOVERY: MPLS services offer data backup/disaster recovery capabilities by connecting data centers and other key sites in multiple redundant ways to the cloud. Unlike Frame Relay and ATM networks which require either switched or backup permanent-virtual-circuits, MPLS services allow remote sites to quickly and easily reconnect to backup locations, when applicable. This flexibility is a major advantage of MPLS over Frame Relay and ATM.

FUTURE-PROOFING THE NETWORK: Businesses realize MPLS is "the wave of the future" and are making the switch from Frame Relay and ATM services to MPLS. This switch is mainly for fear that they will be left behind. Competition is tight among businesses in all industries, so having a more cost-effective and more efficient network system gives them a fighting chance.

In summary, MPLS offers a more manageable and cost-effective network solution. Not only is the system simpler, but also more responsive, scalable and flexible by offering multiple services.





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Rucker