Robert Edmonds wrote: > > Actually, Multiprotocol Label Switch is MPLS. MLS is > MultiLayer Switching. > This refers to a switch that can do not noly what Kiran said > about L3 > switching, but can make forwarding decisions based on higher > level > protocols, such as tcp, udp, etc.
Oh dear, this has really gotten funny. MLS is neither MPLS nor switching based on multiple OSI layers. MLS refers to a route/switch architecture in which the forwarding and routing jobs (layers or modules) are assigned to two different pieces of hardware. A router module learns how to reach destinations, handles the first set of packets to a destination, and then tells a switching module how to handle subsequent packets for that flow. Some high-end routers do this (with VIPs, etc.) and some high-end switches can do it also, either with the help of an outside router or by using built-in feature cards. MLS is often used to specifically refer to the architecture and features on a Cat 5000 and 6000 that enable this division of tasks. There are three components (or layers) to the MLS architecture on these switches: MLS Route Processor (MLS-RP) MLS Switching Engine (MLS-SE) Multilayer Switching Protocol (MLSP) The router part talks to the switching part using MLSP. This allows the switching part to develop a cache that enables "shortcut switching" of packets. That's just one way of handling the necessary tasks, however. Take the 8500 "switch" as an example of another way of handling the problem. It can run the entire IOS and act just like a traditional router, only faster. It has a Switch Route Processor that handles routing functions at high speeds. Just to confuse matters, it behaves a little differently from the Route Switch Processor available on other platforms. :-) Unfortunately, I don't know much about the Catalyst 4000, which was mentioned in the original question. But from what I understand about it, it's basically a router with switch ports. Its architecture is more like the 8500. It runs most of IOS and can do routing protocols, including BGP, OSPF, etc. It can forward packets at high speeds based on Layer 3 info or Layer 2 info. It's a router on steroids, whereas a Cat 5000 or 6000 with MLS is a switch that has been told how to forward packets that normally a router would handle. Which method is better? Neither one, though they have their pluses and minues. Really, you just have to realize that all these options came out during the dot com craze when Cisco had thousands and thousands of employees all working to solve the same problem, gobs of money to buy companies with products that all sovled the same problem, etc. So in true Cisco style, you can accomplish the exact same thing (fast forwarding of packets) in a bunch of different ways. _______________________________ Priscilla Oppenheimer www.troubleshootingnetworks.com www.priscilla.com > > > ""Kirankumar Patel"" wrote in message > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Dear > > > > L3 switching is nothing but switch acting as a router. > > > > MLS -- Multiprotocol Label Switch -- Can enables routers to > make > forwarding > > decisions based on short labels, thereby avoiding the complex > > packet-by-packet look-ups used in conventional routing. > > > > With MLS, can run faster then ATM switch. > > > > Regards, > > > > Kiran > > > > > > >From: "Neil Arlante" > > >Reply-To: "Neil Arlante" > > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >Subject: Difference on L3 switching of Cat4500 and Cat6500? > [7:65802] > > >Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:56:26 GMT > > > > > >Hi group, > > > > > >What is the difference between L3 switching capabilities of > 4500 and > 6500? > > >Catalyst 4500 docs mentioned it support L3 switching, but > not MLS. What > is > > >the > > >main difference between L3 switching of 4500 and MLS of 6500? > > > > > >TIA > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Cricket World Cup 2003 > http://server1.msn.co.in/msnspecials/worldcup03/ > > News, Views and Match Reports. > > Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=65858&t=65832 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
