What Cisco routers can support MPLS?

[tb9999]

Hi, thanks in advance for any advice offered.

A client of mine has 3 sites linked together using point-to-point T1s. They have Cisco 1720 routers at each site. They are planning on migrating to a MPLS network. Site #1 would have two T1s (3mpbs), sites #2 and #3 would a T1 each (1.5m bnps). Most of the traffic is between site #1 and the other sites. Traffic is both VOIP and data.

I am trying to determine what model Cisco routers can support this config. Since site #1 will have two T1s, they need to have multi-link frame relay (MFR).

From what I have read, MPLS and MFR can be supported by a 2801 router with the BaseIP IOS feature set. The other sites should be able to use the existing 1720s, since they just need to be able to route IP to/from the providers edge router.

Is this correct? I call Cisco for pre-sales support and they are saying that the 2801 is the minimum that will work for site #1 (MPLS and MFR) but they recommend the 2811. They also said that the 1720 won't support MPLS. They are suggesting 2801 for sites #2 and #3.

What features do I need the IOS to support? My understanding is that the 1720 with 12(3) IOS can support frame relay and/or MPLS, so with a single WIC-DSU-T1, this should be sufficient.

Can anyone verify this? What model Cisco routers and IOS is anyone else using for MPLS? Thanks.

 

[BuckWeet]

Let me ask you this... What are you trying to achieve using MPLS?

I don't see the benefit for you in this network..


BuckWeet

 

[jeter]

I agree with Cisco's recommendation. The 1720 routers are coming to an end of life and the 2800 series are a better platform. The application should be easy to setup just remember to ad all your static routes.

“Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all”

CCNA,CCNP,CIPT, Network+
Tek-TIP Member 19,650

 

[jneiberger]

Is your client going to build their own MPLS network? If not, then they don't need MPLS support. They just need to be able to make user of whatever access the VPN provider provides. In this case it sounds like it's frame relay.

If dynamic routing is necessary then perhaps BGP will be required but they might also be able to use OSPF or RIP, depending on the type of VPN in place.

 

[KiscoKid]

I'm really just reiterating what jneiberger is saying here, but MPLS is typically invisible to the endpoints that connect into it. Only the provider devices (sometimes called P or PE) need to support the functionality to allow MPLS to work.

From a endpoint (also referred to as a CE) point of view, you just need a platform that simply supports the access technology (e.g. frame relay, atm etc) you want to use to connect to the MPLS cloud. In addition your router must support the protocols the provider proposes to connect into their MPLS cloud. Typically they would be BGP/OSPF/EIGRP (multiple routers or single router/multilple links) or static routing (single router/single link)

The only time the customer endpoint would need to have some kind of MPLS functionality is when you want to extend the VPN functionality back to the CE (customer edge) device for, say, connecting 2 customers to the same WAN router. You may want to do this if 2 seperate customers are simply sharing a building and, for whatever reason, you wanted to utilise the same WAN router for both of them to connect into MPLS. Cisco do support this function - it's called VRF-Lite. This is the only instance I can really think of where the customer endpoint (CE) needs to support MPLS functionality.

Also before you go down the path of implementing MFR, make sure to check with your MPLS provider they actually have the infrastructure to support it!

 

[plshlpme]

For T1 type access we are typically putting out 2651Xm routers as the CE devices.
asstated above though.. the carrier will not extend the MPLS to your edge router.. it will terminate in the cloud and it will be totally transparent to you.

If you do a trace from site A to site B you won't even see the mpls hops. (assuming they have it set up properly)
i don't see why it wouldn't support two T1s with any problems. we use them for E1s at 2mb and they are fine.

in most MPLS service contracts the carrier will supply and manage the CE router. you will simply connect your router to it..

once you know what the carrier offers you can make your router decisions.