How to Optimize MPLS Network Monitoring to Improve Performance and SLAs

Introduction to MPLS and its Relevance in Business Networks

What is MPLS?

In the IT infrastructure serving increasingly digitized enterprises, the criticality of network quality of service is more than evident to ensure connectivity to everyone at any time. System and network administrators need to understand which technology enables efficient, reliable, and lowest latency data transmission between IT applications and services. That’s why we’re introducing the MPLS method (Multiprotocol Label Switching), which refers to “switching” or multiprotocol label switching (circuit-switched networks and packet-switched networks). That is because MPLS integrates network link information (bandwidth, latency, network usage) with IP (Internet ProtocolInternet Protocol) within a particular system (an ISP, Internet Service Provider) to simplify and improve IP packet exchange. Unlike traditional, IP-based networks, MPLS uses a tag system to manage traffic on the network more quickly and effectively.

Importance of MPLS in Network Infrastructures for Businesses Seeking to Reduce Latency and Improve Reliability

For a comprehensive resilient connectivity strategy, the value of MPLS lies in the ability to assist operators in the proper management of network resources, from tags, to divert and route traffic flexibly and according to business needs, achieving greater speed and reducing latency, while avoiding link failures, network congestion and bottleneck generation.

Advantages of MPLS for IT Infrastructures

As we have seen, the primary goal of MPLS is to significantly simplify routing and improve overall network performance.

Among its advantages, there are the following:

• Improvement in Quality of Service (QoS)
  From a QoS perspective, ISPs help manage different types of data flows based on priority and service plan. For example, there are different needs for a business area with a premium service plan or that receives a large amount of streaming (or high-bandwidth) multimedia content, and may experience latency in the network service. When entering packets into an MPLS network, Label Edge Routers (LER) assign a label or identifier that contains information based on the routing table input (i.e. destination, bandwidth, latency, and other metrics) and references the IP header field (source IP address), the socket number information and the differentiated service. Each core router uses tags to determine the most efficient path to its destination. That is, switching is being performed based on labels and their priority, so that data packets move throughout the network accurately and quickly. It should be noted that QoS metrics include parameters such as bandwidth, delay, jitter, packet loss, availability, and reliability, which reflect network features and performance, as well as traffic. What’s relevant about this is that MPLS supports QoS mechanisms that prioritize critical traffic, ensuring that high-priority applications benefit from bandwidth optimization and low latency.
• SLA Compliance in Distributed Networks
  In service management, compliance with the commitments set out in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) must be monitored. By using MPLS, it is possible to ensure network performance by enabling the creation of dedicated paths for data packets. This ensures that network performance metrics (latency, jitter, and packet loss) are implemented consistently. MPLS networks are also designed with redundancy and failover capabilities, which improve network reliability and uptime. The sum of this ensures that network operability remains operational and meets the availability targets specified in the SLAs.
• Bandwidth Usage Efficiency and Traffic Prioritization
  MPLS networks provide strong tools for monitoring and managing network performance, as tags are used to route packets through the network. Each package is assigned a label that states its path and priority. Compared to traditional routing, MPLS is more efficient as it allows traffic engineering to be implemented, helping network operators optimize data flow through the network. By controlling the paths that data packets take, MPLS can avoid congestion and ensure that high-priority traffic is delivered efficiently. MPLS also allows adopting (CoS, Class of service), which is a parameter used in data and voice protocols, critical for many business applications. This is because MPLS helps to classify and manage traffic based on predefined classes of service, according to their criticality and the level of service required. For that reason, service providers may address issues more proactively with MPLS and even easily scale to accommodate growing network demands without compromising network performance.

MPLS vs. emerging technologies such as SD-WAN

When it comes to network management, as experts say, the choice between MPLS, SD-WAN, and emerging technologies should be based on the specific needs and context of the organization.

Comparison between MPLS and SD-WAN

To be able to compare these methods, we must first consider that software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) use virtualization technology to apply the advantages of software-defined networks, unlike traditional networks, which are hardware-based and router-centric to direct traffic across a wide area network (WAN). SD-WAN leverages network connectivity to improve application performance, accelerate productivity, and simplify network management. Typically, SD-WAN devices are usually connected to multiple network links to ensure resilience to a potential outage or degradation of service from a provider’s network. What you do have to keep in mind is that SD-WAN is not necessarily subject to compliance and service levels (SLAs).

On the other hand, MPLS, as we explained before, sends packets on predetermined network routes, avoiding connection to the public Internet and providing a greater guarantee of reliability and performance for the corporate WAN service. In addition, MPLS Service Level Agreements (SLAs) ensure a certain level of performance and uptime. Therefore, MPLS is a recommended method for organizations that need high reliability, low latency and Quality of Service (QoS) for critical applications, although its implementation cost is higher and less flexible than SD-WAN. This is because MPLS requires dedicated circuits between each location, which has its science and can take considerable time to add or remove locations from the network.

To clarify the differences, we added this table:

SD-WAN	MPLS
Offers a more predictable cost model with fixed pricing.	The cost is usually based on bandwidth usage.
It delivers good performance by leveraging multiple transport links and smart traffic management.	It offers increased reliability and performance, particularly for latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP and video conferencing.
It can be easily integrated with cloud-based applications and services, which can be ideal for quickly-expanding organizations or for those that have a distributed workforce.	Dedicated circuits are required between network destinations, so making changes is not as agile and can take your time and cost to make.
It offers advanced security features (example: encryption and micro-segmentation) that may enhance network security and protect against cyber threats.	It generally relies on physical security measures, such as private circuits and dedicated lines to protect network traffic.
Potentially lower reliability than MPLS, particularly for latency sensitive applications.	High reliability, especially for applications that are highly sensitive to latency and performance.

How SD-WAN and MPLS can complement each other

Now that we are clear about the difference between SD-WAN and MPLS, we must also consider that both methods do not compete with each other, but can be complemented by the following:

• Profitability: SD-WAN can leverage lower-cost broadband Internet connections together with MPLS, reducing overall network costs while maintaining high network performance for critical applications.
• Network Performance: MPLS provides reliable, low-latency connections for mission-critical applications, while SD-WAN can route less critical traffic over broadband or other available connections. Both methods together optimizes bandwidth usage.
• Redundancy and reliability: Combining MPLS and SD-WAN offers greater redundancy. If an MPLS link fails, SD-WAN can automatically redirect traffic through alternate paths. This ensures steady connectivity.
• Scalability: By means of SD-WAN, your team can simplify the onboarding of new sites and connections. With MPLS you may manage high priority traffic, leaving the rest to be managed with SD-WAN. With that, you will be implementing scalability and flexibility to adapt to business needs.
• Security: Using SD-WAN, your IT and security employees can take advantage of the fact that it is common for it to include integrated security features (encryption and firewalls) that can complement the MPLS security strategy, as you would be adding an additional protection layer.

Also, MPLS combined with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, can offer significant improvements in network management and optimization by optimizing network traffic, detecting anomalies, automating tasks to manage networks, among others.

As you can see, your team can leverage the strengths of both methods and emerging technologies to achieve a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective network.

How Pandora FMS monitors MPLS networks

Pandora FMS features to monitor MPLS network traffic

Pandora FMS is a flexible and scalable monitoring solution that offers multiple specific features to monitor MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) networks. The main features that make this monitoring available are detailed below:

• Bandwidth and Traffic Monitoring:
  • SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol): Pandora FMS uses SNMP to collect real-time data on bandwidth usage and traffic from MPLS network interfaces.
  • NetFlow and sFlow: These technologies allow detailed analysis of traffic flow, identifying patterns and possible bottlenecks in the MPLS network.
• Latency and Packet Loss Monitoring:
  • Ping and Traceroute Tests: Pandora FMS runs these tests periodically to measure latency and detect packet loss on MPLS paths.
  • Round-Trip Time Monitoring: Continuous evaluation of the time it takes for packages to travel from the source to the destination and vice versa.
• Service Level Agreements (SLA) Management:
  • Custom Alerts: Alert configuration based on compliance with the SLAs defined for the MPLS network, ensuring that any deviation is detected and managed immediately.
  • Compliance Reports: Generation of detailed reports that show the degree of compliance with SLAs, rendering informed decision making easier.
• Display and Dashboards:
  • Custom Dashboards: Pandora FMS allows you to create specific dashboards for MPLS networks, showing key metrics such as bandwidth usage, latency, and packet loss.
  • Interactive Network Maps: Graphic display of the MPLS network topology, facilitating quick identification of critical points and potential problems.
• Integration with Network Management Tools:
  • APIs and Webhooks: Integration with other management and automation tools, allowing fast and coordinated responses to incidents in MPLS networks.
  • Compatibility with Security Protocols: It ensures that monitoring is performed securely, protecting sensitive data on the MPLS network.

Examples of how to ensure Quality of Service and SLA optimization

Ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) and optimizing SLAs is critical to maintain efficient and reliable MPLS networks. Pandora FMS offers several features that make this process easier:

• Traffic Priority:
  • Traffic Classification: By using defined rules, Pandora FMS can identify and prioritize critical traffic types (such as VoIP or real-time applications) over less latency-sensitive ones.
  • Bandwidth Allocation: Dynamic adjustment of the bandwidth allocated to different types of traffic to ensure that priority applications always have the necessary resources.
• Proactive SLA Monitoring:
  • Real-Time Alerts: Setting up alerts to notify the IT team when SLA indicators (such as availability or response time) fall below agreed levels.
  • Trend Analysis: Evaluation of history data to identify trends that may affect future SLAs, allowing for preventive adjustments in MPLS network configuration.
• Path Optimization:
  • Traffic and Performance Analysis: By using data collected by Pandora FMS, sub-optimal paths may be identified and MPLS routing reconfigured to improve overall network performance.
  • Load Distribution: Equal distribution of traffic between different MPLS routes to avoid overloads and improve bandwidth usage efficiency.
• SLA Detailed Reports:
  • Custom Reports: Creation of reports showing compliance with SLAs at specific intervals, providing a clear view of MPLS network performance.
  • Incident Analysis: Documentation of incidents that affected SLAs, making the identification of root causes and the implementation of corrective measures easier.

Use cases of MPLS featuring Pandora FMS

Pandora FMS (Flexible Monitoring System) can be effectively used with MPLS in multiple scenarios to improve network monitoring and management:

• Centralized System Monitoring: Pandora FMS can monitor multiple sites connected through MPLS from a central location. That is because from devices, data can be collected automatically from remote sources (for example, Telemetry) and then transmitted to a central location (in Pandora FMS panel) where they are analyzed for system and network monitoring and control. In business ecosystems, telemetry is critical to managing and managing IT infrastructure. This configuration enables comprehensive monitoring of network performance, ensuring that all MPLS links work optimally.
• Performance Tracking: By integrating with MPLS, Pandora FMS can track network performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss. This helps maintain Quality of Service (QoS) and ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.
• Fault detection and resolution: Pandora FMS detects faults in MPLS networks and generates alerts in real time. This allows your team to identify and solve issues quickly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and maintaining network reliability.
• Traffic Analysis: With Pandora FMS, you may analyze patterns in MPLS link traffic. This helps analyze bandwidth usage, prevent bottlenecks, and optimize traffic flow.
• Scalability: Pandora FMS, from a single console, offers the ability to monitor MPLS networks at large scale, especially for organizations with very extensive and complex network infrastructures.
• Implementation of monitoring solutions and detection of security problems: Pandora FMS can monitor the security aspects of MPLS networks, ensuring that it remains safe and, in the event of a potential threat, issues are quickly identified and addressed.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, those in charge of networks must design a true management strategy, relying on emerging methodologies and technologies to meet the need for efficient, reliable data transmission with the lowest possible latency, while avoiding link failures, network congestion and bottleneck generation. MPLS is a methodology, that, when combined with Pandora FMS, can help your team implement mechanisms to prioritize critical traffic for high-priority applications, which demand optimal bandwidth and low latency. Additionally, the advantages of MPLS can be combined with those of SD-WAN to address potential issues more proactively and even scale flexibly to fit business needs.

That is, with Pandora FMS the three main advantages of MPLS in network monitoring are promoted:

• Quality of Service Improvement. MPLS supports QoS mechanisms to prioritize critical traffic. Pandora FMS can identify and prioritize critical traffic types over less latency-sensitive ones. From a console, you may measure bandwidth and network consumption in real time to ensure Quality of Service.
• SLA Compliance in Distributed Networks. Dedicated paths for data packets can be created using MPLS. This ensures that network performance metrics (latency, jitter, and packet loss) are implemented consistently. With Pandora FMS you may configure alerts to notify IT staff when any SLA indicator is below the agreed levels.
• Bandwidth Usage Efficiency and Traffic Prioritization. Compared to traditional routing, MPLS is more efficient because it can control and prioritize routes for data packets. Pandora FMS can help you identify sub-optimal paths and reconfigure MPLS routing to improve overall network performance.

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