Introduction

This book concentrates on real-world usage of MPLS TE. We spend most of our time discussing things you can configure, tools you can use to troubleshoot and manage MPLS TE, and design scenarios.

This is not an introduction to MPLS. There's enough literature out there, both Cisco and non-Cisco, that we didn't feel the need to spend time on an MPLS introduction. Although Chapter 2 reviews the basics, we generally assume that you're familiar with the three basic label operations (push, pop, and swap) and how an MPLS packet is forwarded through a network. But as soon as you're past that point, this book is for you.

You might already be using MPLS TE in your network. If so, this book is also for you. This book has many details that we hope will be useful as you continue to use and explore MPLS TE.

Or perhaps you are designing a new backbone and are considering MPLS TE for use in your network. If so, this book is also for you as well. Not only do you need to understand the protocol mechanisms to properly design a network, you also need to understand the ramifications of your design choices.