Label switching, an economical and efficient technique for message forwarding in IP networks, is fast becoming a widely deployed solution for improving performance, scalability, and functionality. Written by leading experts in the field, this guide explores the underlying technology of label switching and provides a detailed analysis and comparison of approaches developed by Ipsilon, Cisco, Toshiba, and IBM. It also compares label switching with conventional routing, culminating in a discussion of the Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) standard now being developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETP).

This book-the result of a rigorous review process by key designers-is an invaluable resource to network engineers and designers for evaluating the use of label switching in their own networks.

* Explains the benefits and limitations of label switching technology
* Compares performance, scalability, and robustness of IP Switching, Tag Switching, Cell Switching Router (CSR), and Aggregate Router-based IP Switching (ARIS)
* Reveals how label switching simplifies IP over ATM integration problems
* Presents the latest snapshot of the MPLS standard, which incorporates the strengths of several of the approaches discussed

Average Customer Review: ( 5 customer reviews )
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This book gives an excellent description of different label switching techniques implemented by different vendors at the time, such as IBM, Toshiba, Ipsilon and cisco. This breaks down the chapters on vendor by vendor basis, explains their implementation and then at the end compares all the different approaches.

Even though Yakov and Davie are both from cisco, you can't tell it from reading the book because they have presented the implementations in total impartiality and fairness and only judging the implementations on its technical merits.

After reading the book, you'd understand fundamentals like FEC, label stack encoding, LDP and various techniques/signaling to carry label switching information.

If you want to buy a book om MPLS today, you should go for the latest edition of this book, titled, 'MPLS technology and applications'.

4 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Great introductory book for label switching techniques ....Aug 01, 2000

There is no doubt about this great written book. The reason I only gave this book 4 starts is that I bought the book of "MPLS : Technology and Applications " from the same authors before this one. The coverage and contents between those two books are quite the same - Douh !. My suggestion is that just buy the "MPLS" one if you do not care about CSR and ARIS stuffs too much.

2 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Check this outDec 12, 1998

This book delivers. Outstanding discription of concepts and very good reference sites.

An Excellent BookJul 25, 2001
By Prasad V. Boddupalli
It is one of those few books that explains the concepts of label switching in a lucid style without confounding the readers. A must read.