What Does MPLS Stand For?
MPLS stands for Multi-Protocol Switching Network. MPLS networks are privately owned "cloud" networks that use special tag switches and routers rather than IP addressing to determine source and destination. The multi-protocol aspect means that nearly any data protocol can be transported, making MPLS networks highly versatile.
What Does Fully Meshed Mean?
MPLS networks that are described as fully meshed offer any-to-any connections within the cloud network. You specify the desired connectivity between locations to the network service provider.
When Should You Use VPLS?
VPLS might be the right service for your company or organization if you need to connect anywhere from a few to a few dozen locations as if they were on a single Local Area Network. Advantages of this approach, compared to a private network arrangement with individual point to point connections back to headquarters, include lower latency, higher efficiency, and lower cost... perhaps much lower cost.
Cost Advantage of Converged Networks
By merging voice, data and video onto a single network, the cost and support levels needed to maintain separate computer data, telephone and video networks is reduced to a single network staff. WAN networks may also be managed by the provider, if desired.
MPLS Network Speeds
MPLS networks can run at any network speed and are being adopted by major carriers as the multipoint to multipoint technology of choice. For this reason, MPLS is fast replacing Frame Relay.