By providing fine-grained grooming, path optimization, and traffic segregation, MPLS makes it easier for metropolitan service providers to create, manage, and control a wide range of voice, data, and video services. MPLS is implemented in all Riverstone RS series switch routers, which offer the industry s broadest support for optical Ethernet and legacy TDM interfaces. Metro providers can now create secure and fully manageable voice and data pathways that extend from the end user through to the optical core. MPLS enables precision bandwidth control at the service or customer level over ATM, IP, or Frame Relay networks.
Providers can run voice, data, and video services over a single protocol infrastructure.
MPLS allows deployment of performance sensitive applications with stringent latency and jitter requirements. Using the MPLS protocol, service providers can establish and maintain QoS across an entire metropolitan area network, regardless of the services they provide or the transport media they use. Riverstone s unique open APIs allow service providers to customize and incorporate its MPLS solution quickly into their networks to deliver advanced traffic engineering, QoS, and security features in their metro area networks without jeopardizing service delivery. Hardware-based MPLS Riverstone's MPLS implementation is hardware based and operates at wire speed while retaining the flexibility of software upgrades. Riverstone s advanced implementations, including MPLS extensions, will be available by year-end, with volume shipments commencing in the first quarter of 2001.