Examining MPLS VPN Operation

Examining MPLS VPN Operation

This course is part of Implementing Cisco MPLS Specialization

Instructor: Cisco Learning & Certifications

Access provided by Universidad Austral

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Identify the major terminology and topology of VPNs
Describe the major architectural components and routing requirements of an MPLS VPN
Describe how packets are forwarded in an MPLS VPN environment

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

33 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Implementing Cisco MPLS Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 5 modules in this course

Elevate your network expertise with this comprehensive course on VPN principles and MPLS VPN architecture. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of VPNs—why they were created, the essential terminology, and how overlay and peer-to-peer models differ in implementation, benefits, and challenges. The curriculum moves beyond the basics to unravel the unique components and layered structure of MPLS VPNs, including route distinguishers (RDs), route targets (RTs), virtual routing tables, and address propagation.

Uniquely, this course offers a side-by-side perspective from both customer and service provider viewpoints, clarifying how routing tables function on PE routers and how end-to-end data flows via MPLS VPN backbones. You’ll learn when and why organizations deploy VPNs, the advantages they bring for efficiency and security, and how MPLS traffic engineering drives performance—insights essential for future network architects and troubleshooters. By capturing these advanced concepts in a practical context, you’ll be prepared to design, configure, and optimize networks that are robust, secure, and scalable—a capability increasingly sought after in today’s interconnected world.

What's included

2 readings

This course explains the concept of VPNs as well as the VPN terminology that is also used by the MPLS VPN architecture. The course looks at why VPNs were first introduced; the course also explains the differences between the overlay and peer-to-peer VPN models, how they are implemented, and the benefits and drawbacks of each implementation. It is important to understand the background of VPNs, because you should be able to determine when an organization might need a VPN, and be able to explain how MPLS VPNs can help save time and money. Understanding the different types of VPNs will allow you to recognize where the various types of VPNs would be best used in their associated networks.

What's included

5 videos7 readings7 assignments

5 videosTotal 15 minutes

Basic VPN Overview3 minutes
Overlay VPN Technologies5 minutes
Peer-to-Peer VPN Technologies3 minutes
Benefits of VPNs1 minute
Drawbacks of VPNs1 minute

7 readingsTotal 44 minutes

Basic VPN Overview10 minutes
VPN Implementation Models3 minutes
Overlay VPN Technologies12 minutes
Peer-to-Peer VPN Technologies7 minutes
Benefits of VPNs4 minutes
Drawbacks of VPNs5 minutes
Summary3 minutes

7 assignmentsTotal 66 minutes

Introducing VPNs Course Exam45 minutes
Knowledge Check -Basic VPN Overview6 minutes
Knowledge Check -VPN Implementation Models3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Overlay VPN Technologies3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Peer-to-Peer VPN Technologies3 minutes
Knowledge Check -Benefits of VPNs3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Drawbacks of VPNs3 minutes

This course explains the MPLS VPN architecture, route information propagation, RDs, RTs, and virtual routing tables. It is important to understand how the MPLS VPN architecture is structured, what the components of that architecture are, and how the components are used. This knowledge will help later when you begin to look at design issues and configuration parameters.

What's included

9 videos12 readings12 assignments

9 videosTotal 19 minutes

MPLS VPN Architecture2 minutes
PE Router Architecture1 minute
VRF Overview1 minute
Methods of Propagating Routing Information Across the P-Network3 minutes
Route Distinguishers1 minute
RD Operation in MPLS VPN2 minutes
RD Process Flow1 minute
RT Operation2 minutes
RT and RD Process Flow1 minute

12 readingsTotal 64 minutes

MPLS VPN Architecture6 minutes
PE Router Architecture6 minutes
VRF Overview5 minutes
Methods of Propagating Routing Information Across the P-Network10 minutes
Route Distinguishers5 minutes
RD Format4 minutes
RD Operation in MPLS VPN5 minutes
RD Process Flow6 minutes
Route Targets4 minutes
RT Operation5 minutes
RT and RD Process Flow6 minutes
Summary2 minutes

12 assignmentsTotal 83 minutes

Introducing MPLS VPN Architecture Course Exam50 minutes
Knowledge Check - MPLS VPN Architecture3 minutes
Knowledge Check - PE Router Architecture3 minutes
Knowledge Check -VRF Overview3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Methods of Propagating Routing Information Across the P-Network3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Route Distinguishers3 minutes
Knowledge Check - RD Format3 minutes
Knowledge Check - RD Operation in MPLS VPN3 minutes
Knowledge Check - RD Process Flow3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Route Targets3 minutes
Knowledge Check - RT Operation3 minutes
Knowledge Check - RT and RD Process Flow3 minutes

This course explains the routing requirements for MPLS VPNs. The course offers address and routing perspectives from the customer and service provider side, and it discusses how routing tables appear on PE routers. This lesson also discusses MPLS VPN end-to-end information flow, MP-BGP, updates, and display formats. It is important to understand how information is routed in an MPLS VPN, and how the routing tables are viewed and interpreted. This course will help you to get a clear understanding of the similarities and differences between the global routing table and the virtual routing tables that are created in an MPLS VPN.

What's included

5 videos8 readings8 assignments

5 videosTotal 7 minutes

CE Router MPLS VPN Routing1 minute
PE Router MPLS VPN Routing1 minute
Support for Internet Routing1 minute
Routing Tables on PE Routers0 minutes
Identifying End-to-End Routing Update Flow3 minutes

8 readingsTotal 40 minutes

MPLS VPN Routing3 minutes
CE Router MPLS VPN Routing5 minutes
IP Router MPLS VPN Routing5 minutes
PE Router MPLS VPN Routing5 minutes
Support for Internet Routing5 minutes
Routing Tables on PE Routers5 minutes
Identifying End-to-End Routing Update Flow8 minutes
Summary4 minutes

8 assignmentsTotal 64 minutes

Introducing the MPLS VPN Routing Model Course Exam40 minutes
Knowledge Check - MPLS VPN Routing3 minutes
Knowledge Check - CE Router MPLS VPN Routing3 minutes
Knowledge Check -IP Router MPLS VPN Routing3 minutes
Knowledge Check -PE Router MPLS VPN Routing3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Support for Internet Routing3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Routing Tables on PE Routers3 minutes
Knowledge Check - Identifying End-to-End Routing Update Flow6 minutes

This course explains how forwarding across an MPLS VPN backbone occurs, identifies how labels get propagated, and explains the effects of summarization in the core. It is important to understand how packets are forwarded across an MPLS VPN backbone, because this understanding will help you when you try to isolate problems in the network. This course explains how the far-end label is sent to the ingress PE router and how that information is shared.