GMPLS (Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching), also known as Multiprotocol Lambda Switching, is a technology that provides enhancements to Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to support network switching for time, wavelength, and space switching as well as for packet switching in particular, GMPLS provides support for photonic networking , also known as optical communications.
GMPLS enhances MPLS architecture by the complete separation of the control and data planes of various networking layers. It enables a seamless interconnection and convergence of new and legacy networks by allowing end-to-end provisioning, control and traffic engineering even when the start and the end nodes belong to heterogeneous networks.
GMPLS enhances MPLS architecture by the complete separation of the control and data planes of various networking layers. It enables a seamless interconnection and convergence of new and legacy networks by allowing end-to-end provisioning, control and traffic engineering even when the start and the end nodes belong to heterogeneous networks.
While the technology used by the GMPLS control plane remains IP-based, the data plane (traffic plane) can now diversify to include more varieties of traffic (TDM, Lambda, packet, and fiber, etc). Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) supports multiple types of switching, i.e., the addition of support for TDM, lambda, and fiber (port) switching. In summary, GMPLS extends MPLS functionality by establishing and provisioning paths for:
- TDM paths, where time slots are the labels (SONET).
- FDM paths, where electromagnetic frequency is the label (light waves).
- Space division multiplexed paths, where the label indicates the physical position of data (Photonic Cross-connect)
