Virtual Private LAN Service allows customers to create VLANs in a metro or global network using Multi-Protocol Label Switching or Virtual Private Network Service. This means you can connect all the branches in the same city without costing a lot and in cities elsewhere almost as easily.
LAN switching is a Layer 2 (datalink) concept rather than routing which takes place at Layer 3 (network). Packets are flooded to all locations until they find their destination.
Here are some reasons why you should consider VPLS. It is easy to implement with plug-and-play installation. LAN switches are cheap. It provides flexible bandwidth on-demand options and is a good solution for same-city customers with many locations.
Here are some reasons against VPLS. It doesn't grow or scale well to tens of sites and hundreds of users. Faster bandwidth doesn't provide QoS or solve flooding of packets due to large applications.
In Layer 3 packets are routed based on destination IP address. Routing scales or grows almost infinitely for customers with domestic and global locations. It supports all kinds of IT systems, new or legacy, and provides higher security. But there is a high cost and it will always be more expensive than switching. It is complex to manage and requires very knowledgeable technical staff.
Reasons to use VPLS include:
- Extend LAN infrastructure easily.
- Migrate Frame Relay to MPLS.
- Connect call centers via SIP.
- Provide disaster recovery for data centers.
VPLS may be an excellent solution for any customer with more than location.
Contact the author at cross@gocross.com.
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