The initial goals of the working group have been largely completed. In particular, it has produced a number of RFCs (see list below) that define the base Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), the basic MPLS architecture and encapsulations, and definitions for how MPLS runs over ATM and Frame Relay links.
The current goals of the working group are:
1. Complete outstanding items from the original MPLS effort:
Informational:
(6/12) Applicability Statement for Extensions to RSVP for LSP-Tunnels (8/08) Applicability Statement for CR-LDP (6/12) LDP State Machine
Experimental:
(10/19/99) MPLS Loop Prevention Mechanism
Standards Track:
(8/08) Constraint-Based LSP Setup using LDP (2/07) Carrying Label Information in BGP-4 (8/29) Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels (8/29) MPLS Support of Differentiated Services (6/27) LSP Modification Using CR-LDP (9/01) Definitions of Managed Objects for LDP (8/29) MPLS Label Switch Router Management Information Base
2. Advance the Proposed Standards developed by the MPLS WG to Draft Standard. This includes the LDP, CR-LDP, and RSVP-TE signaling specifications as well as the encapsulations.
3. Specify appropriate extensions to LDP and RSVP for authentication of LSP originators.
4. Complete work on the MPLS-TE MIB.
5. Specify improved fault tolerance mechanisms for LDP
6. Specify MPLS-specific recovery mechanisms to allow one label-switched path to be used as backup for a set of other label-switched paths, including cases which permit local repair. What constitutes the necessary set of MPLS-specific recovery mechanism should be ascertained through cooperation with the CCAMP and TE working groups.
7. Document additional MPLS encapsulations to allow the operation of label-switched paths over additional lower-layer technologies, such as time-division (e.g. SONET ADMs), wavelength (optical lambdas) and spatial switching (e.g. incoming fiber to outgoing fiber).
8. Complete work in progress for specifying the framework for IP multicast over label switched paths.
Done |    | Submit documents from original MPLS effort to IESG |
Jan 01 |    | Shepherd completed MPLS specifications through IESG review and RFC editor processing |
Feb 01 |    | MPLS-TE MIB ready for advancement to Proposed Standard |
Mar 01 |    | Framework for IP multicast over label-switched paths ready for advancement. |
Jun 01 |    | LDP fault tolerance specification ready for advancement to Proposed Standard. |
Aug 01 |    | Specification for MPLS-specific recovery ready for advancement. |
Nov 01 |    | Base MPLS Proposed Standard RFCs ready for advancement to Draft Standard. |
Dec 01 |    | LDP end-to-end LSP authentication ready for advancement to Proposed Standard. |
RFC | Status | Title |
RFC2702 | Requirements for Traffic Engineering Over MPLS | |
RFC3031 | PS | Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture |
RFC3032 | PS | MPLS Label Stack Encoding |
RFC3034 | PS | Use of Label Switching on Frame Relay Networks Specification |
RFC3035 | PS | MPLS using LDP and ATM VC Switching |
RFC3036 | PS | LDP Specification |
RFC3037 | PS | LDP Applicability |
RFC3038 | PS | VCID Notification over ATM link for LDP |
RFC3033 | PS | The Assignment of the Information Field and Protocol Identifier in the Q.2941 Generic Identifier and Q.2957 User-to-user Signaling for the Internet Protocol |
RFC3063 | E | MPLS Loop Prevention Mechanism |
RFC3107 | PS | Carrying Label Information in BGP-4 |
RFC3209 | PS | RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels |
RFC3210 | Applicability Statement for Extensions to RSVP for LSP-Tunnels | |
RFC3212 | PS | Constraint-Based LSP Setup using LDP |
RFC3213 | Applicability Statement for CR-LDP | |
RFC3214 | PS | LSP Modification Using CR-LDP |
RFC3215 | LDP State Machine |