Provider backbone bridging and MPLS: complementary technologies for next-generation carrier ethernet transport

Although provider backbone bridging is sometimes cast as an alternative technology to MPLS for Ethernet transport, the fact is that both technologies can be leveraged to complement one another in a service provider network. This provides the network operator with the best of what each technology has to offer in terms of scalability, manageability, cost, and flexible support for services. An example of the two technologies working in unison is provider backbone bridging interoperating with H-VPLS over networks with an MPLS core. The combined infrastructure leverages the strengths of Ethernet and MPLS with the added advantage of addressing the major shortcomings of standard H-VPLS.