A Routing Architecture for MPLS-TE Networks

International audienceThis paper deals with Multi-Protocol Label Switching-Traffic Engineering Routing (MPLS-TE Routing) Systems which offer key Traffic Engineering features, such as optimization of resources utilization, Quality-of-Service (QoS) and Fast Recovery. Numerous MPLS-TE Routing systems have been defined in the past with their own advantages and drawbacks. This paper proposes a generic architecture for MPLS-TE Routing Systems, with the main objective of helping in classification, analysis and improvement of these systems or the design of new systems. This architecture includes main functions that may be required in an MPLS-TE Routing System. These functions and their interactions are described. Various approaches and options for the implementation and the distribution of these functions in network elements are qualitatively analyzed. A classification of some well known MPLS-TE routing systems is finally proposed