Research On MPLS And Its Test Techniques

MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switch) has been referred, by some people, to as one of the most influential techniques in computer technologies in 21st century. However, other people hold strong criticism on MPLS, security expert Steve Bellovin and network operations expert Randy Bush in IETF are among them. Disregarding the disputes, MPLS has anyway been accepted by ITU & IETF as recommendations or RFCs;hence, it is worth while studying.Selection of MPLS as the object for the author's MS studying is twofold. First, it provides a good reference for an ongoing project called SUPA (Single physical layer User-data transfer & switching Platform Architecture) at SC-Netcom Lab. SUPA adopts the out-band signaling concept as MPLS but with an intention to further simplify the user-data transfer & switching platform into a single layer and to improve QoS provisioning. It would be beneficial for this project to further analyze techniques in MPLS, to learn from its successful experiences, and to overcome its shortcomings. Secondly, it is necessary to plan the test suites for MPLS protocol stack and define the test suite for LDP (Label Distribution Protocol) in the protocol stack so for the router test system under development at the laboratory. Consequently, the author's work presented in this dissertation covers two aspects: a comprehensive study of MPLS technology and test suite planning for MPLS protocol stack with an emphasis on LDP (Label Distribution Protocol).Discussion in chapter 2 is focused on the background of MPLS development, its layered structure and operation principles. A comprehensive discussion on MPLS with regard to efficiency in user-data delivery and switching, QoS provisioning, and security issues is also provided in view of future merged CATV, telephone switched network, and computer networks. These discussions could be beneficial to the research work of SUPANET.Chapter 4 is dedicated to principles for MPLS GTS (Generic Test Suite) planning and naming scheme for Two-Port Tester (TPT), based on the background discussion on router testing techniques in chapter 3. Chapter 5 provides a comparatively complete test suite plan for LDP conformance testing and typical test cases description in TTCN-3. These test cases passed syntax and semantic checking. Chapter 6 examines multi-port concurrent test by a typical test case with a new test definition language called MP-CTDL,The author believes that the work presented in this dissertation will be beneficial for future development although test cases defined have not yet be applied to be real testing for lacking of routers supporting MPLS protocols.